HYDERABAD, Jan 9: The district government finally managed to overcome milk crisis in the city on Tuesday when it, with the consent of the retailers and cattle farmers, fixed the price at Rs28 per litre till the rate is finalised in Karachi, also facing a similar dispute.

It was also decided that retailers in Hyderabad would fix milk price at Rs2 less than the rate fixed by Karachi city district government.

District Nazim Kanwar Naveed Jamil held talks with the retailers and cattle farmers at his secretariat after first round of talks was held between a district government committee and the stakeholders.

The retailers again brought their financial issues to the notice of the nazim and cattle farmers expressed their grievances regarding losses suffered by them on account of ban on transportation of milk outside Hyderabad imposed by the nazim on Monday.

It was learnt that since ban on transportation of milk, the cattle farmers were trying to meet the nazim but he had declined to hold talks with them and said that since a committee was working on the issue, they should hold talks with it and evolve a consensus.

As a result of successful negotiations lasting for several hours, the nazim withdrew ban on transportation of milk under section 144 of the CrPC.

It was agreed in the meeting that the retailers here would sell milk for Rs28 per litre till the price was finalised in Karachi.

The nazim told Dawn that the cattle farmers had been bound down to sell milk to retailers for Rs24.75 per litre.

He said that he had also told the farmers and retailers to ensure quality of milk and they undertook to ensure that each litre of milk would produce 240 gram of condensed milk (mava).

Regarding final rate of milk, he said, once the rate was decided by the Karachi city district government, Hyderabad's retailers would fix their retail at Rs2 less than the Karachi's rate.

He said that quality of milk would be checked and if it was found adulterated, action would be taken against profiteers.

He appreciated the retailers and cattle farmers for cooperating with the district government.

President, Mehran Cattle Association, Yusuf Jatoi, said that issue had been resolved and ban had been lifted on transportation of milk.

He said that the cattle farmers or wholesalers always charged Rs30 less than Karachi's wholesale rate for 40 litres.

The meeting was also attended by Faheem Sheikh, president, All Hyderabad Anjuman Retailers Doodh Faroshan, and others.

Our Bureau adds: The district government has set up a complaint centre at the office of deputy district officer (DDO) revenue of Hyderabad taluka to receive complaints about milk-sellers charging more than the official price of Rs28 per litre.

The DDO revenue who would be in-charge of the centre advised people to register their complaints via telephone No.9200609 or mobile phone Nos.0300-9377305 and 0300-9376688.