An intervention: CM asks PM for help over wheat ban

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Chief Minister (CM) Pervez Khattak has asked the prime minister (PM) to help remove Punjab’s ban on the transport of wheat. In a letter dated Wednesday, May 21, the CM asked PM Nawaz Sharif to “personally intervene and advise the Punjab government to reconsider its restrictions and allow inter-provincial trade and movement of wheat and flour into K-P.” The letter explains check posts between K-P and Punjab have been imposed by the latter and will hinder the procurement target of the former. This is stated as 450,000 tonnes of wheat for 2014-15. According to the CM, the ban will deprive K-P’s people in addition to “ruining the flour mill industry” there and encouraging poor law and order. It goes on to explain the decision taken by Punjab is “against Article 151 of the Constitution which allows free trade between provinces.” The restriction will particularly be felt from November to March 2015, known as the lean period, added the letter.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 22^nd, 2014.