ICCI urges Govt. to resolve wheat supply issue of flour mills to avert flour crisis
- June 17, 2020
Muhammad Ahmed Waheed, President Islamabad Chamber of
Commerce and Industry (ICCI) has called upon the government to resolve the
wheat supply issue of the flour mills of Islamabad region as any delay in this
matter would give rise to another flour crisis in the region. He said that a
meeting chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan had decided to lift the ban on
inter-district and inter-provincial movement of wheat while the private sector
was allowed to import wheat, however, the orders of the Prime Minister have
not been implemented as yet. He said that the official target for procurement of
wheat in Punjab was 4.6 million tonnes but so far 400,000 tonnes of wheat has
been procured as the government rate for procurement of wheat is Rs.1400 per
40 Kg while the private rate is procuring wheat @ Rs.1950 per 40 Kg, which is
why the farmers prefer to sell wheat to the private sector. He said that like every
year, flour mills procure wheat from middlemen while the government quota is
only 100 tonnes which is not enough.
Muhammad Ahmed Waheed said that the Prime Minister had lifted the ban on
inter-district and inter-provincial movement of wheat but the employees and
officials of the Punjab Food Department stop the wheat trucks meant for private
sector at border areas of districts and confiscate wheat for by making payment
@ Rs.1400 per 40 Kg. If this situation continues, the price of flour will go up while
people will face flour shortage and if that happens, the Punjab Food Department
will be responsible.
The ICCI President said that wheat in Islamabad is supplied from Central Punjab
and reaches the federal capital by passing through six districts but on the way
Punjab Food Department officials stop the trucks and confiscate the wheat. He
appealed to Prime Minister Imran Khan and Punjab Food Minister to intervene
and issue necessary orders to ensure uninterrupted supply of wheat to the flour
mills of Islamabad. He also appealed to the Chief Commissioner Islamabad Amir
Ali Ahmed and Deputy Commissioner Hamza Shafqat to help in addressing the
wheat supply issue of flour mills of Islamabad and not to leave them at the mercy
of Punjab.