The NWFP government on Thursday joined the protest of the flour millers against ban on the transportation of wheat to NWFP by Punjab government, and extended full support to the ongoing protest movement.
The NWFP flour millers, under the banner of Pakistan Flour Mills Association (PFMA), has launched a protest drive against ban on the transportation of wheat to the flour mills of the province, which they called an unconstitutional decision of the Punjab government.
Provincial Food Minister Shuja Khan also visited the protest camp of the flour millers, established in front of Peshawar Press Club two days ago, would continue till Friday. Expressing solidarity and extending assurance to the protesting flour millers in the resolution of the their problems, Shuja Khan pledged that he would raise the matter with Pakistan Peoples Party Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari and the Federal Food Secretary to prevent the industry from collapse.
The minister agreed with the views of the flour millers that ban on the transportation of wheat by Punjab to NWFP was in violation of the Constitution. He urged Punjab Chief Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif to play the role of a national leader to protect the flour milling industry of NWFP from destruction.
He said that the ban imposed by Punjab government was promoting the sense of deprivation in other provinces. "I will not only raise the matter at the national level, but would also talk to the cabinet of Punjab," he said. He said that the provincial government was ready to go to any extreme for the protection of the flourmill industry of the province.
Castigating the ban, he said that the restrictions had not only forced the people of the province to purchase wheat flour on high price, but had also put the industry on the verge of collapse. Another minister Sher Azam Wazir, representing PPP in the NWFP cabinet and Awami National Arty (ANP) Senator Ilyas Ahmad Bilour also visited the camp, and assured support to the millers in their struggle.
Speaking on the occasion, PFMA (NWFP branch) chairman Mohammad Sadiq said that the restrictions, imposed by the Punjab government eight months ago, had played havoc with the flour milling industry of the province, endangering an investment of Rs 5.20 billion.
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