Punjab lifts ban on flour supply to K-P, says Yousafzai
PASCO promises to supply 0.1m tonne additional wheat to K-P
PHOTO: REUTERS
PESHAWAR:
Provincial Information Minister Shaukat Yousafzai on Saturday allaying fears of flour crisis said Punjab has lifted ban on supply of wheat to Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P).
Speaking to the media in Peshawar, the provincial minister said the impression that the province was faced with serious shortage of wheat and flour was wrong.
Yousafzai said following a meeting between Prime Minister Imran Khan and chief ministers, the K-P and Punjab officials from respective food departments was held and the flour crisis was averted.
The minister said harmony between K-P and Punjab prevailed and local quota was increased from 3,500 tonnes to 5,000 while Pakistan Agriculture and Storage Corporation (PASCO) has promised supply of 100,000 tonnes additional wheat beside the quota. He assured the public that there would not be any crisis of flour in the province any more.
The provincial minister said K-P needs 4.6 million tonnes annually in addition to the local production of 1.1 million tonnes. The province would have additional 0.1 million tonnes of wheat after the PM’s orders, he said, adding that coordination has already been developed between food departments of K-P and Punjab food department to keep the supply going.
The government has also banned flour supply to Afghanistan to overcome the prevailing situation, he added.
Also, the federal government has assured that action against the flour mills association in Punjab, he said, adding that public should not panic the province has enough wheat and flour to meet its needs.
He said the crisis developed after the supply and demand channel was disturbed. From December to February the demand stays high and supply low, which creates an imbalance and lead to shortages. Distractors and rumour mongers term these shortages crisis to create panic among people.
Strike call
The flour dealers and bread makers rejected information minister’s calim that the naanbai association would not give a call for strike. Flour Dealers Association President Haji Waheed Khan, General Secretary Wisal Khan, Naanbai Association President Iqbal Khan held meeting with Peshawar Additional Deputy Commissioner Ashfaq Khan. The naanbai association rejected the Peshawar ADC request for calling off the protest on Monday.
Iqbal demanded the administration to issue the notification regarding sale of naan weighing 170 grammes for Rs15 otherwise the association would go on strike.
Earlier, the Malakand District Development Committee Chairman MPA Musawir Khan said that the flour crisis in the province was resolved because of the timely steps of the government.
Speaking to the media, Musawir said the government was taking all measures to overcome the flour crisis. The government has set up points to sell flour at subsidised rate.
Provincial Information Minister Shaukat Yousafzai on Saturday allaying fears of flour crisis said Punjab has lifted ban on supply of wheat to Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P).
Speaking to the media in Peshawar, the provincial minister said the impression that the province was faced with serious shortage of wheat and flour was wrong.
Yousafzai said following a meeting between Prime Minister Imran Khan and chief ministers, the K-P and Punjab officials from respective food departments was held and the flour crisis was averted.
The minister said harmony between K-P and Punjab prevailed and local quota was increased from 3,500 tonnes to 5,000 while Pakistan Agriculture and Storage Corporation (PASCO) has promised supply of 100,000 tonnes additional wheat beside the quota. He assured the public that there would not be any crisis of flour in the province any more.
The provincial minister said K-P needs 4.6 million tonnes annually in addition to the local production of 1.1 million tonnes. The province would have additional 0.1 million tonnes of wheat after the PM’s orders, he said, adding that coordination has already been developed between food departments of K-P and Punjab food department to keep the supply going.
The government has also banned flour supply to Afghanistan to overcome the prevailing situation, he added.
Also, the federal government has assured that action against the flour mills association in Punjab, he said, adding that public should not panic the province has enough wheat and flour to meet its needs.
He said the crisis developed after the supply and demand channel was disturbed. From December to February the demand stays high and supply low, which creates an imbalance and lead to shortages. Distractors and rumour mongers term these shortages crisis to create panic among people.
Strike call
The flour dealers and bread makers rejected information minister’s calim that the naanbai association would not give a call for strike. Flour Dealers Association President Haji Waheed Khan, General Secretary Wisal Khan, Naanbai Association President Iqbal Khan held meeting with Peshawar Additional Deputy Commissioner Ashfaq Khan. The naanbai association rejected the Peshawar ADC request for calling off the protest on Monday.
Iqbal demanded the administration to issue the notification regarding sale of naan weighing 170 grammes for Rs15 otherwise the association would go on strike.
Earlier, the Malakand District Development Committee Chairman MPA Musawir Khan said that the flour crisis in the province was resolved because of the timely steps of the government.
Speaking to the media, Musawir said the government was taking all measures to overcome the flour crisis. The government has set up points to sell flour at subsidised rate.