Flour mills to stay shut till demands are met

KARACHI: The All Pakistan Flour Mill Owners Association (APFMA) has reiterated that all flour mills across Pakistan would continue to observe a strike until the government took notice of their grievances.

“Free trade and movement of goods between the provinces is a constitutional right that must not be usurped” said APFMA Chairman Iqbal Daud while addressing a press conference in Lahore.

Mill owners have alleged that the Sindh government was obstructing the transport of wheat and flour into the provinces of Sindh and Balochistan despite the federal government’s assurances that no such hurdles would be created.

The APFMA has urged the government to remove these restrictions immediately.

Talking to The Express Tribune, Daud confided that there had been some contact with government officials regarding the demands put forward by the millers.

However, he commented that no positive developments emerged from the discussions.

“We will continue this strike until we receive a proper response based on actions and not words,” he added.

All chapters of the APFMA have backed the strike call and flour mills across the country remained closed for a second day in a row on Friday.

Meanwhile Sindh Food Department officials have brushed aside allegations that the movement of flour was being restricted by them.

“The Chief Minister imposed section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure on June 9, affecting transport of goods through Sindh. This order was not issued by Sindh Food Department,” commented Ministry Munir Jalbani, Press Secretary for the Sindh Food and Agriculture Ministry

He also accused APFMA of misconstruing facts to pressurize the government into increasing export quotas.

Economic experts commented that the prolonged closure of mills could result in supply shocks, affecting retail prices of the staple food item.

They were of the opinion that government may be compelled to give into to some of the demands put forth by mill owners if the supply of wheat were to be restored before the start of Ramadan.

Published in The Express Tribune, July  10^th, 2010.