Flour Millers to Go on Strike Across Punjab

Flour mills in Punjab are set to go on strike, according to the Pakistan Flour Mills Association (PFMA). The strike is in response to what the association describes as anti-industry policies and corruption by food department officials. The PFMA claims that wheat and flour quota permits have been suspended, and mills are being fined up to Rs.

5 million for minor infractions. Additionally, the association alleges that officials are demanding payments for issuing permits and truck lists used for transporting goods. PFMA Chairman Riazullah Khan said the millers do not want to benefit from political instability and are seeking to operate their businesses legally. He also accused the District Food Controller (DFC) of creating a corrupt system for issuing transport permits.

The PFMA further claims that the provincial government has transferred the authority to issue permits to the DFC, who are now demanding large sums of money for each permit. Khan also raised concerns over the transportation of bran, which is used as animal feed, stating that the DFC had discontinued an agreement with the Director General Food to allow mills to provide lists of trucks for transporting bran.

The association argues that these restrictions could lead to increased prices for wheat and flour, as well as make transportation more difficult and expensive.