The Punjab government is considering releasing its wheat stock to flour mills before September and will announce a date after it consults with the Flour Mills Association.
Punjab Food Minister Hussain Jehanian Gardezi told journalists at the inaugural session of 2nd flour milling conference being organised by the India-Pakistan Flour Mills Confederation here on Friday evening: "Traditionally, wheat is released from government stocks in September but because of Ramazan, the government is considering releasing wheat early."
He said he hoped that with releasing the wheat from the government stocks, the flour prices would also lower. He said that because of free trading of wheat and hoarding by some people to cash in on the export market resulted in increasing its price. He said the government would also ensure that the wheat stock would be released to only operational mills.
Earlier addressing the conference, the minister said the Punjab in line with the federal government would support the flour mills to start producing the fortified flour and praised the flour mills in the province for taking steps for standardisation. He urged them to set up research facilities to improve quality of their product.
He said the government had adopted a policy of protecting interest of all stakeholders in any industry and that besides protecting the interests of the flour mills, the government also protected consumers' interests. India-Pakistan Flour Mills Confederation Chairman Bilal Aslam Sufi and flour milling industry's representatives also addressed the inaugural session.
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