Flour shortage hits twin cities

RAWALPINDI:

A flour crisis has gripped the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad after the Punjab Food Department halted the supply of wheat to local flour mills.

Following the suspension, the Flour Mills Association announced it will stop supplying flour to the twin cities from Monday, November 10. The association has also cancelled all existing orders for the delivery of flour and fine wheat (maida) to dealers, tandoor owners, and grocery merchants in both cities, triggering a shortage that began Friday night.

An emergency meeting of the Rawalpindi Flour Mills Association, chaired by Patron-in-Chief Sheikh Tariq Sadiq, was held to discuss the situation. The meeting was attended by Punjab Chairman Riazullah Khan, senior leaders Raza Ahmed Shah, Chaudhry Afzal Mahmood, Sanaullah Durrani, Sheikh Yasir, Chaudhry Asif, and Abdul Samad Sethi, along with a large number of flour mill owners.

The participants expressed serious concern over the Punjab Food Department's decision to stop issuing wheat supply permits to mills in Rawalpindi and Islamabad. They noted that the twin cities are non-wheat-producing areas and depend entirely on supplies from wheat-growing districts.