HYDERABAD, Oct 28: Members of the District Council here on Thursday criticized held the Sindh government for its failure to control the price of flour which was being sold at Rs14 per kilogramme as compared to Rs10 in Punjab.

Adopting a resolution of Babu Ramzan Arain, the members alleged that the Sindh government did not take interest in resolving the wheat crisis.

Mr Arain said that wheat was being supplied to flour mills and chakki owners for the last 45 days yet the price could not be controlled.

The wheat flour was being sold at Rs14 per kilogramme due to irresponsible attitude of the district government, he said.

He called for opening of fair price shops in the city.

Rana Mehmood said that Punjab and NWFP governments had offered subsidy on flour while the Sindh government even failed to maintain the price hike.

Kanhya Lal said the district government's sincere move to check smuggling of wheat to Karachi would automatically reduce the price.

Yousuf Qureshi said the people were not receiving 10 per cent wheat quota as officials of the Sindh food department were working in collusion with rofiteers.

He alleged that the district's wheat was smuggled to Karachi.

Expressing dissatisfaction over the DPO's reply about cancellation of permission for holding gathering of meditation comprising two segments Hamd-o-Sana and Zikar-i-Illahi in Latifabad, the members described it as eyewash.

Convenor Nawab Rashid Ali Khan read the reply of the DPO, stating that words of 'cancellation of permission' for the programme had been deleted as it was a typographical mistake.

Qazi Qadeer called for the withdrawal of cancellation letter because no loudspeakers were being used during the meditation process. The presiding officer Miran Mohammad Shah did not allow debate on the letter, saying the convenor had already given the ruling.

When Rana Mehmood Ali Khan insisted to move an out of turn resolution, he allowed it.

Mr Khan said that the cancellation of the gathering was an attempt to cause provocation among Muslims.

Sumaira Akhlaq said the Makki Shah road, connecting Latifabad and city, was in shabby condition due to sewerage problem and said traffic had to be diverted to other roads due to its condition.

Parveen Lodhi said two main hospitals were located on the Mohammad Ali Johar road besides mosques but it remained inundated with the sewerage water.

Insisting on replies of his questions regarding details of properties of the district government, Dr Ayaz Arain said his questions were pending for the last one year but officials were reluctant to submit replies.

He urged the chair to direct the officials to provide details of the district government's agricultural, residential and commercial properties, their monthly income and outstanding dues against tenants. Majeed Qureshi said the Effendi Town was facing problem of non-availability of drinking water.

The session was adjourned till Saturday.