Flour mills in Islamabad/Rawalpindi region are facing closure from Friday as government wheat issue for them is ending-up from April 30, and they do not have alternative source of open sector of supply due to Punjab government's ban on commodity movement.
Pakistan Flour Mills Association (PFMA) Secretary General Sanaullah told Business Recorder on Thursday that Punjab government's decision would hit Rawalpindi/Islamabad millers below the belt since they would have gone out of supply source from April 30.
According to him, provincial food department halts wheat issue to the mills in the province from April 30, every year on the pretext that commodity becomes available to the millers from the open market at competitive rates till August.
Government food department resume wheat issue to the mills from September which continues for another six to seven months when fresh crop again becomes available to the millers.
But this time millers are facing totally different situation due to an unexpected move of the Punjab government to ban wheat movement.
Sanaullah said, "As PFMA Secretary General, I have brought the matter into the notice of the provincial authorities and demanded quick decision to save the millers and subsequently the people of Rawalpindi/Islamabad region from serious flour crisis.
Rawalpindi/Islamabad region falls in the category of deficit area and it depends on other areas to meet flour needs of the people. Gujranwala, Sargodha and Faisalabad regions are the best choice of Rawalpindi/Islamabad millers for purchase of wheat.
PFMA's letter addressed to the Punjab Food Department said that the government wheat issue for Rawalpindi/Islamabad region shall come to an end from April.
Afterwards, it added, the mills in the region shall have no other option but to close down for non-availability of wheat since wheat supply has been cut off on account of ban on commodity movement.
PFMA Secretary General wants some workable system to ensure restoration of supply for Rawalpindi/Islamabad region equivalent to 24 hours capacity on daily and advance basis from Gujranwala, Sargodha and Faisalabad regions.
The letter cautioned of serious crisis of flour (Atta) in Islamabad/Rawalpindi region in case PFMA's call goes unnoticed.