PESHAWAR: The Chairman of the Pakistan Flour Mills Association (PFMA) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Mohammad Naeem Butt, has raised a high-level alarm regarding the survival of the provincial flour industry. In a hard-hitting press conference, he revealed that 80% of flour mills in KP have shut down due to an “unconstitutional and illegal” ban on wheat movement imposed by the Punjab government.
The Massive Supply-Demand Gap
Chairman Naeem Butt highlighted the stark reality of food security in the province, noting that while Khyber Pakhtunkhwa requires 5.2 million tons of wheat annually, it only produces 1.2 million tons. This leaves a massive deficit of 4.1 million tons that must be met through inter-provincial trade.
Punjab’s “Unconstitutional” Restrictions
The Chairman stated that since August 25, the Punjab government has strictly prohibited the supply of wheat and flour to KP.
- Contradictory Policies: While official letters suggest there is no ban, practical enforcement at checkpoints tells a different story.
- Confiscation: Wheat destined for KP is reportedly being seized at checkpoints and redistributed to mills within Punjab.
- Price Hike: Due to these restrictions, KP is forced to acquire wheat at PKR 12,500 per maund, which is PKR 2,500 more expensive than in Punjab.
Impact on the Common Man
The KP Flour Mills crisis and Punjab wheat supply ban have directly hit the pockets of consumers. Mr. Butt informed the press that the price of a 20kg flour bag has skyrocketed to PKR 2,700. He noted that 20% of mills are still operating only by purchasing expensive, smuggled wheat from Punjab to keep the province’s food supply chain from snapping entirely.
Urgent Demands for Federal and Provincial Intervention
The PFMA Chairman criticized the lack of response from the Prime Minister and the Chief Minister of Punjab despite multiple written appeals. He presented a list of urgent demands to stabilize the situation:
- Inquiry Committee: The Prime Minister should immediately form an inquiry committee to investigate the illegal ban on wheat movement.
- Release of Govt Reserves: Chief Minister KP should direct the Food Department to release official wheat stocks to local mills.
- PASCO Procurement: The government should facilitate wheat purchases from PASCO or allow imports from abroad if local supplies are insufficient.
- Formation of Joint Committee: A joint committee comprising Federal and Provincial representatives should be formed to resolve the flour mills’ grievances.
A Call for Equality
Naeem Butt questioned why KP is being treated differently when Sindh and Punjab are providing relief and cheaper wheat to their citizens. He warned that if the ban is not lifted and the KP government does not provide immediate relief, the province’s only major industry will vanish, leading to massive unemployment and a severe food crisis.
