5,000 sacks of wheat wasted in warehouse in Balochistan

Provincial food department is unaware of the damage

QUETTA: More than 5,000 sacks of wheat have been laid to waste in a government warehouse in the Muslim Bagh town of Qilla Saifullah. Heavy rains and snowfall in the current season damaged the stock placed outside the warehouse which could no longer be used.

Provincial food department had no information about the damaged stock of wheat in the warehouse.

“We will assess the situation in the warehouse and analyse whether the stored wheat can be utilised or not,” said a food department official.  A wheat crisis has engulfed the country, including Balochistan, causing flour prices to escalate by 30 to 40 per cent in various parts of the province.

Flour mill owners blame the provincial government’s negligence for the damage caused to the stored wheat, especially during the current crisis.

Earlier, Pakistan Flour Mills Association (PFMA) Balochistan chapter expressed concern over the provincial government’s apathy towards ensuring proper supply of wheat to the flour mills which, in turn, sent prices of flour skyrocketing in the province.

Chairing a meeting held in Quetta Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Balochistan Flour Mills Association President Syed Saleh Agha expressed his concern over wheat shortage and heavy upward surge in flour prices. Quetta Chamber of Commerce and Industry Senior Vice President also attended the meeting.

President, office-bearers and members of the association expressed concern over government’s flawed policies as they had urged taking some serious action for purchasing 50,000 tonnes of wheat immediately from Pakistan Agricultural Storage and Services Corporation (PASSCO) for the continuation of smooth supply of the grain to the flour mills but the government did not pay attention to the issue.

Sharing grievances of the association, the regional president said, “Poor people are compelled to buy expensive flour because they have no alternative. Besides, the officials are unwilling to resolve the issue triggering food crisis in Balochistan.”

He added the association was ready to sell flour at the rate of Rs900 per 20kg without subsidy if the provincial government assures timely supply to the flour mills.

Meanwhile, former senator and BNP central leader Lashkar Raisani slammed the federal government for not overcoming the flour crisis in an agricultural country.

Addressing a press conference at Sarawan House in Quetta, the former senator said, “Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf lacks competency to govern the country because in the last 17 months major crises have gripped Pakistan.”

Published in The Express Tribune, January 22^nd, 2020.