PFMA concerned over wheat export by sea

Says Punjab govt’s move to export 250,000 tonnes of wheat had put at risk the future of flour mills

QUETTA: The Pakistan Flour Mills Association (PFMA) on Saturday expressed concerns over the Punjab food department’s decision to invite bids for wheat export by sea, saying that such a move would destroy the related industry of Balochistan.

In a joint statement, PFMA Chairman Naeem Butt and Badruddin Kakar said the Punjab government’s move to export 250,000 tonnes of wheat had put at risk the future of flour mills in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

“The food department on Punjab has invited bids to export wheat through the sea route, which has sparked concerns among people working in the flour industry in Balochistan and K-P,” the statement said. “Thousands of jobs may end because of this decision,” it added.



The statement said that Punjab’s decision was a clear violation of the Economic Coordination Committee’s (ECC) directive for export of 30 percent wheat and its products through the land routes.

“For decades Pakistan has been exporting wheat to Central Asia and Afghanistan through the land routes that has boosted the country’s economy. But the recent decision of Punjab food department would devastate the flour Industries in the two smaller provinces.”

“The decision indicates that the Punjab government seeks to benefit a group of people. We have sent a letter to the federal secretary for national food security regarding our concerns,” the association added.