Negotiations on wheat price failed between the government and the association of flour mills, and the latter decided not to end the ongoing strike, learned on Monday by Pakistan Today.
Pakistan Flour Mills Association (PFMA) had raised the price of meal according to data. The government had asked millers to lower the price, but they went on strike on the contrary.
Food department sources told this scribe that there remained an inconclusive dialog between the association and the government. However, they added the Secretary Food agreed that during the meeting the demands for the district administration not to intervene in the flour mills.
The official also agreed that the province would have an open supply of wheat and mills would be able to buy wheat from the open market, but the wheat and flour prices were blocked, sources maintained. Sources further suggested that only 3.7 million tonnes of wheat had been procured by the provincial food department, while the target was 4.8 million tonnes. The food department also put a ban on the wheat procurement from the open markets, and we shut down the mills. If there is a wheat crisis in the future, then the government would be responsible for that, “Mukhtar made it clear.
It is fitting to note here that 930 flour mills are closed and on strike across Punjab including 67 in Lahore.
Extracted from City42 News
