Flour mills seek removal of hurdles in wheat procurement

Pakistan Flour Mills Association (PFMA) has given assurance to provincial government that mills would reduce flour prices in the province provided the Food Department took necessary steps for removing various hurdles being faced by them in wheat procurement.
Shahid Hussain, Provincial Food Secretary, told Business Recorder here on Saturday that Food Department high-ups during a meeting with association representatives assured them that necessary directions would be issued to officials concerned for not creating hurdles in wheat procurement by flour mills through permit system.
He said that Food Department has also instructed its staff all over the province not to create any hurdle in the wheat procurement operation of flour mills.
He claimed that due to the efforts of Punjab government wheat flour prices have started coming down in various areas of the province.
"Wheat flour prices will come down to previous levels shortly as the government is determined not to allow anybody to raise flour prices unjustifiably on the pretext of high wheat prices," he added.
When contacted, Chairman, Punjab Flour Mills Association, Liaquat Ali Khan, avoided to divulge the decisions taken in their meeting with the high-ups of Food Department.
Mirza Farman Baig, a senior member of PFMA, said that it was difficult for flour mills to reduce flour prices as wheat prices were touching new highs. He said that flour mills in Punjab would not go on strike.
PFMA Central Chairman Niaz Ahmad in a press statement has asked President Pakistan Muslim League (Q) Shujaat Hussain to use his influence for lifting ban on inter-province wheat movement imposed by Punjab government. He also demanded supply of wheat to flour mills of NWFP.
Meanwhile, according to a market survey conducted by Business Recorder here on Saturday, 20 kg flour bag was being sold at prices ranging from Rs 215 to Rs 230 in various localities of Lahore. Some consumers criticised the government for its failure to check price hike of flour.
They demanded of the government to take strict action against flour mills which are earning unjustified profits by exploiting the prevailing situation.