K-P moves to overcome wheat shortage

Govt to provide wheat directly to flour mills

PESHAWAR:

In response to the ban imposed by Punjab on the interprovincial supply of flour and wheat, the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) government has decided to launch government-regulated flour across the province, officials said on Tuesday.

The initiative aims to stabilise prices and ensure availability of the commodity following a surge in costs caused by disruption in the supply.

Under the plan, wheat will be provided directly to the province's flour mills, and the Food Department has issued a detailed code of conduct for both flour mills and flour dealers.

The move comes after attempts to restore wheat supply from Punjab failed despite protests by K-P authorities, flour mill owners and local bakers.

Under the scheme, a 20-kg bag of government flour will be sold to the public at Rs2,220. Flour mill owners will receive the same bag at Rs2,190. To distinguish government-regulated flour, mills will sell it exclusively in green-coloured bags.

All Food Green warehouses will be equipped with CCTV cameras to monitor distribution and sales. District Food Officer or Rationing Controller will compile a list of licensed flour dealers and provide it to the relevant Deputy Commissioner.

Dealers will be required to display a banner stating: "Government of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa flour available here at Rs2,220 per 20kg."

Flour mills receiving wheat from the Food Department are required to submit daily reports detailing the amount of wheat received and flour produced according to approved ratios.

Failure to comply will render the mills ineligible to receive further government wheat. Distribution of government wheat will be carried out equally among operational flour mills holding a valid Food Green license. A comprehensive report will be submitted to the Directorate of Food through the Divisional Deputy Director of Food.

For districts without operational flour mills, the wheat quota will be redistributed to operational mills in adjacent districts, in line with PFC decisions.

If the district is not covered under these arrangements, the Directorate of Food will ensure that the quota is transferred from surplus to deficit districts according to allocations from the relevant DFC.