Flour millers split over strike call
KARACHI:
The Sindh government has dismissed claims made by the All Pakistan Flour Mills Association (APFMA) that mills were observing a country-wide strike.
Sindh Food and Agriculture Minister Nadir Magsi, while talking to The Express Tribune, said “there is no strike of flour mills in Sindh.”
“Certain political elements are exaggerating issues and trying to give an impression that the Sindh government has created hurdles in the way of flour millers,” he added.
The minister highlighted that millers in Sindh would testify that the government has fully cooperated with them.
He also stressed that the Sindh Food Department had not imposed any restrictions on the movement of flour or wheat between provinces.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of APFMA, Iqbal Daud, declared that the country-wide strike would continue till next week.
Reiterating the grievances of mill owners, he demanded that the transport of staple food items across provincial borders should not be obstructed and exports to Afghanistan should be allowed in line with directives of the federal government.
The APFMA had declared a country-wide halt to flour mill operations three days ago to protest against hindrances in the way of free movement of goods within the country.
However, Chairman of the Karachi Retail Grocers Association, Fareed Qureshi, told The Express Tribune that supply of flour had not been affected and shops had received deliveries from various flour mills over the past two days.
“Despite their support for the strike, many mills have been operating non-stop over the past two days. We will also resume production on Monday regardless of whether APFMA calls off the strike or not,” said a flour mill owner and former office-bearer of APFMA on condition of anonymity from Karachi.
Official spokesperson for the Sindh Food and Agriculture Department, Munir Jalbani, urged millers to display national spirit instead of thinking about personal gains.
Jalbani explained that the Sindh government had borrowed more than Rs35 billion from banks and other institutions to purchase wheat at the support price.
“If mill owners start buying wheat from other sources, what are we going to do with all the wheat that the government has purchased?” questioned Jalbani.
He added that negotiations would be welcome but cautioned that first priority would be given to public interest.
Sources close to APFMA revealed that several mill owners held reservations about the strike call.
While the association’s chairman has asserted that 1,060 flour mills were currently closed, it appears as if cracks may be emerging within the organisation as many mills have resumed production despite their public support for the strike.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 11th, 2010.
The Sindh government has dismissed claims made by the All Pakistan Flour Mills Association (APFMA) that mills were observing a country-wide strike.
Sindh Food and Agriculture Minister Nadir Magsi, while talking to The Express Tribune, said “there is no strike of flour mills in Sindh.”
“Certain political elements are exaggerating issues and trying to give an impression that the Sindh government has created hurdles in the way of flour millers,” he added.
The minister highlighted that millers in Sindh would testify that the government has fully cooperated with them.
He also stressed that the Sindh Food Department had not imposed any restrictions on the movement of flour or wheat between provinces.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of APFMA, Iqbal Daud, declared that the country-wide strike would continue till next week.
Reiterating the grievances of mill owners, he demanded that the transport of staple food items across provincial borders should not be obstructed and exports to Afghanistan should be allowed in line with directives of the federal government.
The APFMA had declared a country-wide halt to flour mill operations three days ago to protest against hindrances in the way of free movement of goods within the country.
However, Chairman of the Karachi Retail Grocers Association, Fareed Qureshi, told The Express Tribune that supply of flour had not been affected and shops had received deliveries from various flour mills over the past two days.
“Despite their support for the strike, many mills have been operating non-stop over the past two days. We will also resume production on Monday regardless of whether APFMA calls off the strike or not,” said a flour mill owner and former office-bearer of APFMA on condition of anonymity from Karachi.
Official spokesperson for the Sindh Food and Agriculture Department, Munir Jalbani, urged millers to display national spirit instead of thinking about personal gains.
Jalbani explained that the Sindh government had borrowed more than Rs35 billion from banks and other institutions to purchase wheat at the support price.
“If mill owners start buying wheat from other sources, what are we going to do with all the wheat that the government has purchased?” questioned Jalbani.
He added that negotiations would be welcome but cautioned that first priority would be given to public interest.
Sources close to APFMA revealed that several mill owners held reservations about the strike call.
While the association’s chairman has asserted that 1,060 flour mills were currently closed, it appears as if cracks may be emerging within the organisation as many mills have resumed production despite their public support for the strike.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 11th, 2010.