RAWALPINDI: (Nov 15). A major flour shortage crisis that could hit twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad has been averted at least for now as Pakistan Flour Mills Association (PFMA) agreed here on Monday to postpone its scheduled strike for closure of flour mills after a meeting with the Punjab Food Department and other concerned authorities.
The flour mills had given a call for closure of mills against short supply of wheat by the Punjab government. The Punjab government had taken its notice and convened the PFMA to listen their grievances.
“After today’s meeting, we have been assured of positive outcome on the thorny issues by the Punjab government authorities in next meeting to he held in Lahore on Saturday and as a follow-up PFMA has postponed its strike for closure of flour mills in Rawalpindi / Islamabad”, one of 17- member PFMA delegation told NEWSMAN after the meeting.
According to the member, PFMA delegation will meet with the Punjab government officials in Lahore on Saturday next and hopefully it will sort out irritants that compelled PFMA to go for absolute step of closure of flour mills.
The PFMA has agreed to continue to supply of green flour to the market at discounted rates and other stocks at market rates and its representatives will meet again with the concerned authorities in Lahore on Saturday to find out a long term solution to the problems confronted with the flour industry.
Monday’s meeting was held at deputy commissioner Rawalpindi office and it was attended by the director Food Punjab and other officials of the district administration. The PFMA was represented by its office bearers hailing from Rawalpindi and Islamabad.
The flour mills in Punjab are making it difficult to keep its operation intact due to short supply of government quota as the concerned authorities have failed to transport wheat stocks from the growing areas to the godowns to ensure timely supply of wheat to the flour mills in all major cities of the Punjab.
Historically, Punjab government manages transportation of wheat from growing areas to major cities in time, but like all other areas, it has shown irresponsibility in the matter too that led to shortage of wheat for mills to keep flour supply to the market intact.
Talking to NEWSMAN from Lahore by phone, PFMA former president, Mian Riaz, said the flour mills are demanding of the Punjab government to either transport wheat from far flung areas to its centres and ensure timely supply to the mills or adjustmemt of carriage and freight charges in wheat flour so that the mills do not pick loss and close down once for all.
‘The flour mills are acting in total responsibility and they want the similar response from the Punjab government to maintain supply of atta to the market without any break”, Mian Riaz asserted.
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