With the supply of flour stopped from Punjab, the local people of the province are deprived of the basic commodity
PESHAWAR:
Due to new differences between the federal and provincial governments, the local people of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) are forced to buy flour at exorbitant prices. With the supply of wheat and flour from Punjab to KP stopped since last three weeks, flour mills in the province are on the verge of collapse.
Just a few days ago, a 20-kilogram bag of flour in KP was available for Rs.1,400, but within a week, the price went up to Rs.2,100 and this week it has further increased to Rs.2,900. Meanwhile, the price of white flour has increased from Rs.1,800. to as high as Rs.3,200. for a 20-kilo bag.
Even as the flour crisis intensifies in the province, instead of addressing this crucial issue, the KP government remains preoccupied with its internal political affairs. The provincial food minister has done nothing but issue statements, and therefore no concrete steps have been taken to resolve the wheat crisis or implement an alternative strategy.
Rehan Afridi, a resident of Jamrud district, who runs a clothing business in Peshawar’s Firdous market, came to the flour market to buy flour. Last month, he bought two 20 kg bags of flour for Rs 3,000. But this week, one shop was selling them for Rs 5,400 and another for Rs 5,600.
Rehan told The Express Pakinomist that he was shocked to see the sudden rise in prices. “Flour and ghee are essential items in our monthly budget. The doubling of their prices has completely disrupted the budget of middle-income households. If the government cannot even provide cheap flour, what other relief can we expect?” Rehan lamented.
Nabi Jan, a Suzuki driver from Peshawar’s outskirts in Chamakni, shared similar complaints. “It is extremely sad that warehouses in both rural and urban markets are full of flour. The government could buy from these at a profit and help the poor, but both the district administration and the food department are silent,” criticized Jan.
According to information received by The Express Pakinomist, due to rising flour prices and shortage, traders have hinted at a province-wide strike if the price of bread (roti) is not allowed to increase; a move that will compound the hardships of the public.
Naeem Butt, President of Pakistan Flour Mills Association KP, felt that the unconstitutional restrictions on wheat and flour movement from Punjab was very worrying as 90 percent of the flour industry in KP was closed.
“Due to Punjab’s restrictions, the prices of flour, refined flour (maida) and other products are increasing daily. The price of a 20 kg bag of flour, which was Rs1,600 before August 25, has now increased to Rs3,000. KP’s total wheat requirement is 5.3 million tonnes, but only 12 million tonnes are produced by the provinces. Butt.
Junaid Altaf, Chairman Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry, also expressed serious concern over the ongoing wheat crisis in the province. “The fragile flour industry is being pushed to the brink of destruction. The higher civil and military authorities must intervene and lift the ban on transportation of wheat and flour from Punjab to KP to save the province from a humanitarian and economic crisis,” urged Altaf.
When The Express Pakinomist asked flour dealer Kifayat Khan in Peshawar about the sudden price hike, he explained, “It’s been almost a month and not a single bag of flour is allowed to cross over from Attock Bridge. In Punjab, a 20 kg bag costs Rs. 1,800, but in KP it is sold for Rs. 3,000.”
Former provincial finance minister Taimur Jhagra claimed at a press conference in Peshawar that the federal government did not release the NFC Award arrears and FATA’s annual special package to KP. “Politics aside, basic public needs must never be ignored in such matters,” Jhagra asserted.
