K-P okays digital flour supply chain

Dashboard will allow CM to monitor daily position of wheat and flour supply

PESHAWAR: To prevent another flour crisis in the province, the provincial government has decided to set up a digitalized ‘Wheat Flour (Atta) Supply Chain System’ to provide geo-tagged data about stocks at different warehouses and flour mills in the province.

The system was disclosed during a meeting at Chief Minister Secretariat in Peshawar on Friday about the flour shortage in the province. The meeting was chaired by K-P Chief Minister Mahmood Khan.

The chief minister briefed in detail about the newly-introduced wheat flour supply chain system in the province. The key feature of the system was that the flour situation can be monitored and analyzed daily through an exclusive dashboard.

Through this dashboard, the chief minister and the chief secretary can monitor the daily situation of wheat flour with respect to district-wise demand, needs, distribution, sale, storage and other key segments. It will also record data about the availability of wheat flour stocks, supply against demand, trends on the shortfall, an inspection of flour mills, geo-tagging of warehouses and mills, flour supplied to dealers and other critical data.

To easily monitor the system, the meeting was told that soon, QR-Codes will be printed on bags of flour.

Mahmood appreciated the system and termed it as an important step towards e-governance in the province. However, he also directed to further improve storage and management of flour stocks, directing that long-term planning and mechanisms need to be devised for the purpose.

The meeting was also attended by K-P Food Minister Qalandar Lodhi, Advisor to Chief Minister Ajmal Wazir, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Shahab Ali Shah, administrative secretaries of the relevant departments, Peshawar commissioner, head of strategic support units and other officers.

The shortage of flour in the province had prompted the naanbais earlier this month to go on a three-day strike. They had demanded that the government increase the price of flatbread from Rs10 for naan to Rs15. The crisis, though, was only eased after Punjab lifted a ban on supplying wheat and flour to K-P.

The government set up its own sale points across the province where flour was sold at the regulated price of Rs800 for a 20-kilogramme bag.

Subsequently, the chief minister had ordered the districts admonition to take action against wheat hoarders and profiteers.

The federal government had also simultaneously approved the import of 300,000 tonnes of wheat to offset the shortage in the country.

Stores fined over price-lists

Meanwhile, in Malakand, several stores were fined for violating regulations regarding the provision of flour at subsidized prices and to prominently display the price lists.

Following directives from the Malakand Deputy Commissioner Iqbal Hussain, Batkhela Additional Assistant Commissioner Muhibullah Khan visited the Alladand bazaar to check prices offered by shops. During the inspection, the quality and price of flour and other essential commodities being sold was examined. Fines were imposed on violators under the relevant section.

Meanwhile, in Dir, Adenzai Assistant Commissioner Tariq Hussain inspected various notified dealers to ensure the availability of subsidized flour at approved rates as well as other shops for the prominent display of price list.

During the inspection, no violation was found while sufficient stock of subsidized flour was found to be available in shops which were being sold at the prescribed rates.

In Timergara, an ant-pie dog drive continued and the Lower Dir sanitation staff euthanized 10 stray dogs within the remits of the Timergara bazaar.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 1^st, 2020.