Pakistan Flour Mills Association(PFMA), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has demanded the procurement of 1 million tons wheat during the current harvest season to meet the requirements of the province and abolition of check-posts for illegal collection from wheat loaded trucks in Sindh.
The demands were made in an emergency meeting of the zone executive committee held here with chairman, Haji Sartaj Ali Khan in the chair. Those who attended the meeting were: former chairman PFMA, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Mohammad Naeem Butt, vice chairman, Peshawar Division, Haji Musarrat Shah and executive members, Haji Merajuddin, Haji Gul Zarin, Haji Bahadar and Malik Iftikhar Ahmad Awan.
The meeting was told that wheat supply has been started from Sindh to other parts of the country which is marred by mismanagement while illegal check-posts have been established everywhere. The meeting demanded of the federal government to take notice of the unconstitutional act. The provincial chairman PFMA expressed sorrow and concern over the establishment of illegal check-posts and demanded of the federal government to take notice of the illegal practice. The meeting warned that in case of the failure of the government in abolition of the check-posts the flour mills association will protest the matter at national-level.
The meeting appreciated the efforts of the Provincial Minister for Food for the procurement of wheat last year. Addressing the meeting, former chairman, Mohammad Naeem Butt said that the purchase of 0.3 million tons wheat had earned billion of rupees for the provincial government and no problem was faced in the availability of flour in the market. He requested the Provincial Minister for Food, Shuja Khan to prepare positive policy for wheat procurement and enable the flour mills to help flour mills in supplying cheaper wheat flour to the people.