Flour mills selling Atta with 27% moisture, rather than standard 13%

[Naveed Yaseen]

Khalid Iqbal
The owners of flourmills are openly using 27 per cent water in wheat grinding, which not only make ‘atta’ substandard but also over weight. Apart from this fact this unsafe ‘atta’ is being sold at the rate of Rs460 a 20-kilogram bag while several shopkeepers are selling it for Rs480.

The government had allowed 13 per cent use of water in grinding but unfortunately concerned officers are unmoved against violation by the flourmills owners.

Deputy District Officer Revenue (DDOR) Muhammad Arshad Warraich told ‘The News’ that many among a total of 85 flourmills in Rawalpindi and Islamabad are supplying substandard ‘atta’. He said letters were sent to Food Department to stop wheat quota to such mills but concerned department is not taking action accordingly.

Rawat Flourmills, Capital Flourmills, Habib Flourmills, Hadi Flourmills and others are supplying substandard ‘atta’, he claimed.

He said that flourmills are using unhygienic water in grinding, which is very dangerous for human health. The locals of twin cities are regularly complaining about stomach problems because of low quality ‘atta’, he said. He said that owners of flourmills by using their influence getting wheat quota and becoming richer day-by-day. There is no reason of low-quality ‘atta’ because the government is supplying 100 per cent local wheat to flourmills, he added.

General secretary of All Pakistan Flourmills Association and owner of Kashmir Flourmills in Islamabad Chaudhary Mukhtar admitted the fact that some flourmills are using 27 per cent water in wheat grinding, which is not hygienic. He said they should use potable water to avoid health problems, adding the government should take action against violators of the law.

Punjab Food Department Secretary Irfan Elahi told ‘The News’ that district food controller should stop wheat quota of the mills, which are supplying low quality ‘atta’. He said that food controller is bound to take action against such flourmills.

District Food Controller Muhammad Babar was not available for comments despite repeated attempts.

According to a survey conducted by ‘The News,’ customers are forced to buy ‘atta’ from ‘chakis’ where one kilogram ‘atta’ is being sold for Rs30.

Dr Muhammad Masood of Holy Family Hospital said that stomach patients are increasing day-by-day. They complain severe pain in stomach, which is caused by substandard ‘atta’. People should use ‘fine’ atta to avoid stomach problems, he suggested.

Muhammad Iqbal Chaudhary, a social worker, said that he could not afford to buy fine ‘atta’ for Rs650 per 20-kg.

Nusrat Razia, a housewife, said that the government is killing them through substandard and costly ‘atta’.

A 20-kilogram bag of ‘atta’ is being sold for Rs480 against Rs460 in areas including Adiala Road, Dhoke Kashmirian, Dhoke Juma, Pirwadhai, Dhoke Kala Khan and New Mohanpura.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=170803