Millers are canceling existing orders for flour and wheat from local retailers, tandoor owners and merchants
Serious flour crisis has gripped Rawalpindi and Islamabad following Punjab Food Department’s ban on supply of wheat to flour mills in the twin cities. After the suspension of the wheat supply, the Melmøllforeningen has announced that it will stop the flour supply to both cities from Monday.
All existing orders for flour, fine flour (maida) and wheat from local traders, tandoor owners and grocery stores have been cancelled, leading to a shortage in the markets since Friday evening. A meeting of the Rawalpindi Flour Mills Association, chaired by Patron-in-Chief Sheikh Tariq Sadiq, was held to discuss the issue.
The participants expressed concern over the Punjab government’s decision to stop issuing permits for the supply of wheat to Rawalpindi and Islamabad-based mills. They noted that the twin cities are non-wheat producing regions and are solely dependent on supplies from Punjab’s wheat producing districts.
The association warned that if the issuance of wheat permits does not resume immediately, the supply of flour will continue to remain suspended, potentially exacerbating shortages in Rawalpindi and Islamabad. Officials urged the Punjab Food Department to reconsider its decision and warned that continued disruption of wheat supply could escalate into a full-blown food crisis in the capital region.
Last month, the Pakistan Naanbai Association had expressed concern over the doubling of prices of flour, fine flour and refined wheat over the past 18 months, as well as the continued sealing of tandoors, imposition of fines ranging from Rs 50,000 to 100,000 and the closure of bakeries for up to five days.
Naanbai Association Central President Shafiq Qureshi said at the time of the formation of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif government and Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz administration in Punjab, a sack of 79 kilos of red flour cost Rs.5,500 whereas now the price has increased to Rs.11,000. Likewise, a bag of fine flour, which was earlier priced at Rs6,200, now sells for Rs12,600.
“This system of expensive flour and cheap bread can no longer be sustained,” he said. “The prime minister once promised to sell his own clothes to provide affordable flour – but now it’s the tandoor operators and bakers who are being exposed. Since the establishment of the new price enforcement force, we have faced relentless repression.”
According to Qureshi, since October 1, as many as 38 tandoors have been demolished without justification, 79 have been sealed for five days and more than 100 owners have been fined between Rs 25,000 and Rs 50,000. “We will not be silent any longer,” he declared.
He added that the government and the district administration have completely failed to regulate flour prices and their frustration and administrative failure is being taken out on tandoor owners and bakers through demolitions, fines and arbitrary closures. The association has sent a formal requisition to the Deputy Commissioner calling for an immediate meeting of the Price Control Committee to adjust the roti prices in line with the prevailing flour rates.
