KARACHI - The police and private force established by Sindh Food Department are creating hurdles in the way of supply of wheat from Punjab to Balochistan through Sindh, The Nation learnt on Tuesday. Several trucks loaded with wheat from Punjab had been stopped near Jacobabad, border point of Sindh province that connects Balochistan. The policemen and Food Department officials are extorting money from the traders who are bringing wheat from Punjab to Balochistan, said sources. The wheat-laden vehicles of the traders, who refuse to pay bribe, are not being allowed to proceed to Balochistan, from Jacobabad, the sources added. The office-bearers of Baluchistan Flour Mills Association alleged that the people belonging to Magsi Force, established by Sindh Food Department has made their routine to stop the vehicles loaded with wheat at Jacobabad border to Balochistan. Abdul Wahid Abraj Chairman Balochistan Flour Mills Association while talking to The Nation claimed that the police and workers of Magsi Force of Sindh Food Minister were demanding the money for release of the vehicles loaded with wheat. Terming the hurdles unconstitutional created by police and vigilance team of Sindh food department, he said the Constitution of the country does not restrict the movement of any food commodity from one province to the other. He further said the Punjab govt has allowed them to purchase the wheat from the their province for Balochistan but, police personnel and private force of Sindh Food Department have made a business to stop and release the vehicles after collecting some money from the drivers. He pointed out that at least 30 to 40 trucks carrying wheat leave the Punjab for Balochistan every day through Sindh border. But, police and private force of Sindh Food Department do not allow them to enter Baluchistan as most of the trucks stand at Sindh-Balochistan border at Jacobabad for five days due to demand of extortion money, he alleged. Each vehicle, carrying 12 to 16 metric tonnes of wheat has to pay bribe to the said elements at border which resulting in further increase in the total cost of expenditure. He said that he had already informed the Prime Minister and Chief Ministers of Sindh and Balochistan about this malpractice, but no action has been taken so far. The central body of the All Pakistan Flour Mills Association in its meeting on May 18th in Karachi will chalk out a strategy against the injustices being met by the police and vigilance team officials of Sindh Food Department, he said. Meanwhile, Chairman Sindh Flour Mills Association Johar Kandhari told The Nation that the Sindh Food Department has sought one week time to lift the ban on the arrival of wheat from Punjab. He said the procurement target of 1.2 million tonnes of wheat for this year will be achieved this week as provincial govt has purchased 1.25m tonnes commodity from the growers, so far. He warned that if Provincial Food Minister would not honour his assurance to lift ban on Punjab wheat till next Monday, the matter will be brought before the central committee of flour Mills body on May 18th. However, the official spokesman of Food Department of Sindh Munir Jalbani said the vehicles carrying wheat to Balochistan were being stopped only to make sure that the commodity was not purchased or lifted from the province of Sindh. He rejected the allegations levelled by Flour Mills Association Balochistan and said there was no such Magsi force exists while only vigilance committee was formed by Food Department to monitor the price and availability of the commodity in the province.