Flour mills announce shut down

The failure of negotiations between the Sindh Food Department and the All Pakistan Flour Mills Association (APFMA) Sindh chapter has resulted in the closure of more flour mills across Karachi, causing fears of a rise in flour prices.

The Flour Mills Association Sindh Zone had given an ultimatum which was not met by the government’s assurance of providing a shipload of imported wheat. APFMA Sindh Chairman Chaudhry Amir Abdullah stated that their demands for the free movement of wheat from Sindh to Karachi had not been met.

The association demands the abolition of the 13 check posts causing delays in delivery of wheat to the city and adding to the price of the grain in shape of overhead cost of bribery.

Subsequently, APFMA has announced a strike starting at 7:00pm on Thursday (today). The current market price of flour is Rs170/kg, much higher than the ex-mill price of Rs128/kg offered by the flour mills body. A prolonged strike may result in a further increase in the price of flour.

Wheat trucks seized

A team of law enforcement agencies and officials of the district administration of Khairpur on Wednesday seized two vehicles transporting huge quantity of wheat from Punjab to Karachi.

The trailers, loaded with hundreds of wheat bags, were seized in a successful operation against wheat smuggling near Shah Hussain Bypass on the National Highway Khairpur.

Officials stopped two trailers moving from Rajanpur district of Punjab to Karachi. During the search, wheat bags weighing about 1,275 maunds worth Rs5.1 million were recovered from each of the trailer truck.

The wheat and the trailers have been handed over to District Food Controller, Khairpur for further legal process.

With additional input by APP

Published in The Express Tribune, May 4^th, 2023.