Rawalpindi: (Parliament Times) The Punjab Government has imposed a ban on selling Ata other than one being supplied by the government at subsidized rates in the markets across the province including Rawalpindi division. .
Under these orders no atta being supplied by private mills will be allowed to be sold out to the citizens and the wheat flour which is being supplied by the government with allowing subsidy on the rate will be allowed to be sold out to citizens in the markets. .
Meanwhile, the Special Branch Police have been directed that only Green bag should be sold in market, hence, the police have arrested around 12 shopkeepers for selling other Ata Bags of private Companies.
Special raiding teams of Police conducted operations in markets located in various areas of Rawalpindi including Sabzi Mandi, Jameh Masjid Road, Sadiqabad, Dhok Khabba. The police have also impounded Ata bags of private mills and registered cases against the shopkeepers.
The citizens have lashed out at the government’s decision and said that Ata bags being sold under government supervision are sub-standard quality and unhygienic .
After the ban imposed by Punjab Government, the Ata Dealers, flour Mill owners and shopkeepers have rejected the decision and started protesting against it.
Anujman Traders leaders Gulam Qadir, Akbar Khan and others have criticized the government policy saying the rulers have bent upon using ugly tactics and have unleashed loot and plunder spree in the name of atta.