Pakistan Flour Mills Association (PFMA) has demanded ban on the export of wheat, fixation of unified price of the commodity in all federating units and stoppage of the harassment of flour millers of Balochistan by National Accountability Bureau (NAB).
The demands were made during the meeting of the association held with Central Chairman, Asim Raza Ahmad in the chair. Chairman, PFMA, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Haji Sartaj Ali, Chairman Balochistan, Badruddin, chairman Sindh, Mian Hassan Mehmood, former Central Chairman, Mohammad Iqbal Daud and former chairman, Khyber Pakthunkhwa, Mohammad Naeem Butt, members executive of both central and provincial associations were also present.
The meeting was told that the export of wheat has affected domestic reserves and if the situation continues the country would have to face wheat crisis. Central Chairman, Asim Raza Ahmad said that the matter of the imposition of ban on the wheat export and collecting of commissions on the transportation of the commodity to Sindh and Balochistan from Punjab would be taken up with the government.
The chairman of the association further complained of the harassment of the flour millers of Balochistan by NAB and hinted at resorting to protest. He said that they were in favour of the export of wheat products and against the export of commodity. He said that the industries are facing many problems although industries played an important role for the economic development of any country.
The chairman PFMA said that action initiated by NAB against flourmills in Balochistan has no legal status and demanded of the chairman NAB for immediate stoppage of action against the flour mills and initiate action against those who were harassing the management of flour mills.
He said that the association believes in a balanced policy and would not allow the usurping of the rights of any province. Ahmad asked Peshawar Electricity Supply Company (PESCO) to decrease the duration of power outages to flour mills. The participants of the meeting were of the view that due to the lack of unified prices of flour the people and flour milling industry were facing severe financial losses and demanded of the government for fixing the unified price of wheat for all provinces.
Addressing the meeting, Provincial Chairman, PFMA, Haji Sartaj Ali and former Chairman, Mohammad Naeem Butt said that the export of wheat has triggered increase in the price of flour in the local market. They demanded of the government for adopting positive policy before the beginning the holy month of Ramazan. They said that despite informing the government about their problems Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have not provided wheat according to their demands.