Twin-cities fear flour crisis

Millers warn of supply halt due to 'arbitrary actions' by Food Dept

RAWALPINDI:

A new and significant crisis concerning flour and wheat is expected to erupt in Rawalpindi Division and Islamabad starting Wednesday (today), following Rs550 per bag increase in the price of wheat and the suspension of wheat permits in the twin cities.

Flour supply is anticipated to cease as a result of the Flour Mills' subsidy and wheat permit suspensions.

The Flour Mills Association held an emergency meeting to strongly protest the ending of the wheat subsidy and permits. The meeting was held under the patronage of Tariq Sadiq, Chief Patron, and was attended by Riazullah Khan, Chairman of the Pakistan Flour Mills Association Punjab, and central leader Raza Ahmad Shah.

During the meeting, it was argued that while the federal and Punjab governments work to resolve issues and increase tax revenue, the arbitrary actions of the Food Department have exacerbated the problems. The following demands and issues were raised: Interference in wheat transportation: Vehicles loaded with wheat products are being stopped and seized anywhere within Punjab by the Food Department and its paramilitary force, which subsequently imposes heavy fines. Furthermore, seized trucks carrying flour, maida/fine flour are allegedly sold at the government rate through collusion, which the Association deems unacceptable.

Arbitrary permit restrictions: Wheat permits are often halted on baseless allegations and pretexts. Recently, a limit has been imposed on wheat permits, which is less than the load of a single vehicle.

Demand for permit quotas: The Association demands that since no government subsidy is involved and flour mills purchase wheat privately from the open market, wheat permits should be issued according to the mills' actual demand.

Inter-provincial movement: Permission must be granted to transport flour made from privately purchased wheat to other provinces.

Removal of security personnel: Despite paying millions of rupees in taxes to the government, flour mill owners are treated like "thieves and robbers" with the deployment of police/civil defence personnel who maintain a presence at the mills day and night. The association demands the immediate withdrawal of police and paramilitary forces from the flour mills.

The Association warned that if the problems faced by the flour mills are not resolved, Rawalpindi mills will be unable to lift LDC wheat and supply flour to the market.