Sindh accused of banning movement of grains

ZAHID BAIG

LAHORE: Flour shortage is expected to further aggravate in Punjab as wheat transportation from Sindh is being denied despite having permits from the Sindh food department.

The Pakistan Flour Mills Association (PFMA) sources told Business Recorder on Saturday that wheat harvesting had started in Sindh some 10 to 12 days ago, and as per tradition the Punjab flour mills tried to buy wheat from Sindh to meet flour demand in Punjab.

Wheat arrival in Punjab is delayed as harvesting is yet to be started in the province. Nevertheless, Sindh slapped a ban on the movement of grains from Sindh to Punjab.

Later, the chief secretaries of the two provinces held a meeting, and it was decided that instead of allowing open buying and transportation of wheat to mills in Punjab, it should be issued against a permit.

The Punjab food department has been directed to apply for the permit with the Sindh authorities after getting requests from the flour mills in Punjab.

On this, permits were issued to 10 mills of Punjab including mills of Lahore through a notification SO (W)-7(27)/2019-20-WPC dated April 1, 2020. Through this notification, the district food controller concerned was asked to allow the said 10 mills to buy and transport wheat from that district to Punjab.

PFMA Central President Asim Raza Ahmad told this scribe that supply of wheat had been stopped in Larkana division by the officials of Sindh food department despite the permission and the permit.

He feared that this sort of a ban might not let flour shortage in Punjab ease.

Asim further said that there were three check-posts in Sindh, and they were not only stopping the wheat movement to Punjab but also demanding money to release the trucks.

He said that if this issue was not resolved, it might lead to a further worsening of the shortage in the market of Punjab, and it will continue until Punjab’s own wheat arrives in the market.

He appealed to the government to intervene in the matter to get wheat released which is bought against permits issued by the Sindh food authorities to ensure a smooth supply of flour.

The PFMA central chairman in response to a question said that at present they were getting wheat from the Punjab food department and supplying around 1.2 million flour bags to the provincial market which was in line with the requirement.

But the market is feeling strained because of different factors such as people buying wheat flour bags in bulk to distribute it as charity.

He said if Sindh released wheat to Punjab, it would ease the situation. Otherwise, the shortage would continue until Punjab’s wheat arrives in the market, he concluded.