FCCI will assist and try to resolve the issues pertaining to the Flour Mills Industries, said President of the Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FCCI) Mian Zahid Aslam during a meeting held with Faisalabad Mills Owners at FCCI yesterday.
He said that FCCI is the third premier Chamber in the country and a mother organisation to all sectors and open for all business members in the area whether a small trader or an industrialist with its major role to protect the interests of its members. While addressing the flour mills owners, President FCCI highlighted Food Security that has gained greater importance world-wide and Pakistan being agricultural country; it should raise the crops' yield which is comparatively low with that of other countries in the region.
He maintained that Pakistan is blessed with fertile arable lands and is fourth largest producer of wheat in Asia with the best canal irrigation system in the world as well as 4th largest producer of cotton, milk and rice, etc. He said we should avail the opportunity of food security in the world by raising the crops yield per hectare.
Similarly, the development of food processing industry is also inevitable as it would not only meet the food requirement of 180 million people in the country but also earning precious foreign exchange by exporting to the other countries.
Muhammad Ramzan, Chairman Standing Committee on Flour and member Executive Committee of FCCI said that Government should limit itself to the required purchase stocks of wheat from the field as a food security and flour mills sector be given incentives for promotion of flour industry in Pakistan He said that flour is an essential food commodity used by the rich and the poor and raising the support price of wheat with the recent increase by 14 percent from Rs 1,050 to Rs 1,200 per 40 Kg for wheat crop 2012-13 would automatically raise the cost of flour for the common man fuelling the food inflation which is at double digit for last four years and major sufferers would be the vulnerable groups of society
Speaking on the occasion Mian Javed Iqbal, former President FCCI said that FCCI today has developed a corporate set up in its working and infrastructure and offered the Association members for use of Chamber Secretariat services and venue for their meetings and developing flour sector in the area. He maintained that Chamber platform is open for all and follow strictly its objective to take along all the business sectors in the area and Association members are free to participate in the Chamber's delegations also.
Chaudhry Muhammad Boota, Vice President of FCCI said that Flour Industry is an important sector of the economy. He lamented that its due importance has been neglected in the past which should now be given full role as the essential commodity sector of the economy.
Ramzan while thanking to the Chamber leadership to facilitate for organising the meeting successfully said that FCCI is playing a very dynamic role in the area and solving problems and serving the members in a very effective manner. He assured of the co-operation of Flour Mills Association for their increased participation by way of enhancing their membership at the FCCI.