LAHORE: The Pakistan Flour Mills Association (PFMA-Punjab) Chairman Asim Raza Ahmad has urged the federal government to immediately import wheat and ensure supply of flour in the markets to avert facing any reaction from the public.

Speaking at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the PFMA Punjab here Tuesday, he said that the federal and provincial governments would be responsible if any reaction is faced from the public and flour milling industry is brought under pressure.

He said the association had intimated some six months back that there was shortage of 3 million tons of wheat in the market. He said the private sector was taking practical steps but the government is seen nowhere in import scenario. He said that the availability of flour is the issue being faced by the market at present instead of price.

He warned that the issue would become more serious in November-December.

Asim Raza Ahmad was critical of the government claiming of 4.1 million tons of wheat and said why the government had to issue 900,000 metric tons of wheat just in two months of achieving the 'wheat procurement target.' The meeting was also attended by PFMA Central Chairman Badaruddin Kakar, PFMA Sindh Chairman Haji Yousaf and various others.

Dua was offered at the start of the meeting for the departed soul of former PFMA Chairman Habibur Rehman Leghari.

The outgoing chairman Rauf Mukhtar said that the crisis was being faced due to wrong policies of the government. Liaqat Ali Khan opined that flour crisis could not be averted unless government quotas are abolished. Senior Vice Chairman Sheikh Khalid and Vice Chairman Usman Mahmood also addressed the AGM.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020