The controversy between Punjab and other three provinces over ban by Punjab on inter-provincial movement of wheat has deepened posing serious threat to inter-provincial harmony.
To-date the meetings of provincial food secretaries, ministers and federal government have remained inconclusive as the federal government and the three provinces have failed to convince Punjab govt to lift the ban.
The Punjab government does not seem to heed advice from any quarter and has ignored orders of even the Prime Minister, which is tantamount to violation of the constitution.
Clause 3 of Article 151 of the constitution clearly states that a 'provincial assembly or a provincial government shall not have power to make any law, or take any executive action, prohibiting or restricting the entry in export form".
The Punjab government also set aside the agreement with Asian Development Bank on keeping wheat movement free in the country. The Punjab government action has created procurement problems for the deficit province to build up their strategic reserves.
The controversy has reach a point where the chief ministers of provinces are loudly thinking that if Punjab would not lift the ban, the other provinces would be justified in banning gas, power supply, machinery and access to sea. Sindhi 'national' element more often than not levelling serious allegations against Punjab is now on the forefront to launch a protest campaign declaring that the hegemony of Punjab in any form would not be tolerated. This is a serious situation which needs immediate attention of the new Shoukat Aziz government.
As regards to present wheat situation, the estimate of national wheat production released by the ministry of agriculture and food for 2003-04 crops is 20.1 million tons, which is sufficient to meet the requirement of the country during 2004-05.
Pakistan's wheat needs, if calculated on the basis of 124 kg per capita consumption for a population of 150 million, work out to 20.25 million tons. With one million tons required for food security, Pakistan will need 21.25 million tons during 2004-05, leaving a deficit of 1.15 million tons. How this shortfall would be met is yet to be known as there was no mentioning by the Minfal as to from where this shortfall would be met.
The shortfall in wheat production is not only due to poor rate of yield but there are other reasons such as smuggling of wheat to Afghanistan and large numbers of flour mills with a grinding capacity almost double the requirement of the country.
Presently there are 775 flour mills operating in the country and getting the quota according to the capacity on subsidised rate and are often found using wheat for commercial purposes with the result that the much publicised benefit of the subsidy is never passed on to common consumers.
For past several years, the flour mills are thriving on the release of subsidised wheat from government stocks.
According to media reports Karachi mills were once earning a sum of Rs 35 million extra monthly profits.
Some of Karachi flour mills are operating bread-manufacturing units along with flour mills have also been issued quota of subsidised wheat, thanks to provincial food department.
It is high time that the ban on inter-provincial movement of wheat should be immediately withdrawn in the interest of national harmony and the federal government should take steps to ensure streamlining of food departments and the wheat distribution system to avert wheat crisis.