KP millers warn against supply of substandard wheat

PESHAWAR: Flour mill owners in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are demanding a week to halt the forced supply of floodwater damaged wheat. Otherwise, they warn of taking decisive action. Muhammad Naeem Butt, Chairman of the Pakistan Flour Mills Association Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, spoke at a press conference and explained that government stored wheat is ruined by floodwater.

However, the food department mixes the damaged wheat with fresh wheat before supplying to mills. Butt emphasized the loss of Rs 3 billion to the provincial exchequer due to this damaged wheat. He stated that the contaminated wheat is harmful to health, so they refuse to use it in flour. The millers prioritize supplying quality and standardized flour and will not buy or sell mixed damaged wheat flour.

Butt also called for proactive measures to protect wheat stocks from floodwater at government godowns. When asked about the increase in flour prices in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Butt explained that the supply of wheat and flour was halted due to logistical issues, leading to a significant rise in prices in the local market. He urged KP Governor Faisal Karim Kundi to help resolve the wheat crisis and address the concerns of flour millers.