ISLAMABAD: Despite issuing a notification in the gazette of Pakistan, waste of wheat flour (Atta) valuing Rs 53 billion every year is continuing unabated as none of the government departments is taking responsibility to implement the crucial decision to stop wastage of this God gifted food stuff.
A research conducted by NEWSMAN suggests that substandard non food grade packing is being done by the flour mills for .wheat flour (Atta) and its sole reason of waste of around Rs 53 billion to the national economy per year and this practice is continuing despite the facts that Pakistan Polypropylene Woven Sack Manufacturers Association has given detailed presentations to all concerned departments of the federal government and provincial governments, citing the loss being caused to the national economy as a result of continuous use of substandard non food grade packing and subsequent waste of wheat flour (Atta).
The loss of wheat flour (Atta) in a country like Pakistan where millions of pro- poor people do not have access to daily meal and they beg for a loaf or go to sleep empty belly. The question arises as to why those who are on helm of the affairs are not taking wastage of wheat flour (Atta) seriously?. Another question which boggles one’s mind is what enjoyment waste of wheat flour (Atta) gives to the concerned officials of Pakistan Standard & Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) and other concerned departments or what is there financial interest in this national loss?.
Pakistan Polypropylene Woven Sack Manufacturers’ Association, is fighting single-handedly for this cause for years. Its office bearers are struggling for years to make the policy-makers realize that the waste of wheat flour (Atta) is a big loss to the national economy and its stoppage by introducing food grain packing of polypropylene bags for packing of wheat flour (Atta) will be a great service to the nation and particularly to those pro -poor who do not have access to food due to lack of money.
The chronology of the events suggests PSQCA did issue the mandatory notification in this regard some four years ago in 2017, but it never got serious in its implementation. PSQCA rather taking responsibility of implementing its mandatory notification that could stop loss to the national kitty in the shape of saving atta from wastage rather it simply passed on its responsibility for implementation of mandatory notification to the provinces.
PSQCA half-hearted approach spoiled Pakistan Polypropylene Woven Sack Manufacturers Association’s efforts for implementation of the mandatory notification and finally it knocked at the Islamabad High Court (IHC) door to ensure implementation of PSQCA notification to save waste of wheat flour (Atta). The association is yet to get implemented PSQCA mandatory notification as the case is pending before the IHC for over one year.
“Do you think I have any personal interest in the case”, Pakistan Polypropylene Woven Sack Manufacturers Association chairman, Iskander M Khan, questioned when NEWSMAN approached him to get the association’s point of view on the issue in hand. He said “ I do not have any interest in it rather I am fighting for the national cause as its making the national economy bleeding without anyone”.
NEWSMAN also made a comparative statement on use of sugar vis- a- vis waste of wheat flour (Atta). The comparison is mind boggling.
According to the available date and official statistics, one person consumes 7 kg sugar vis- a- vis 180 kg of atta. This proportion suggests that one person consumes sugar 7 kg (@ 100 per kg sugar price current market rate) it costs Rs 700 per annum (inclusive of tax Rs 112). Thus net cost of sugar per person per annum stands at Rs 588/. The same calculation suggests that share of each person in waste of atta (9 kg per annum) (@ Rs 70 per kg market rate) is Rs 630 per annum.
This calculation i establishes how indifferent the policy-makers of this country are when it comes to implement any decision to stop loss to the national kitty. It also establishes that national interest is perhaps the last priority of the baboos of this country. Is it sheer unfortunate that the policy-makers are allowing waste of atta of Rs 630 as compared to sugar consumption of Rs 630 per person per annum .
