Substandard wheat: Licences of 42 flourmills suspended

LAHORE:The mission of providing affordable and quality flour in Punjab is going on diligently and Food Department Punjab is active to fulfill this mission.

Punjab Food Department, on the instructions of Provincial Food Minister Bilal Yasin, checked 1,160 flour mills across the province and during these raids 42 flourmills were fined and their licences were suspended for keeping substandard wheat.

According to the details, 20 flourmills of Lahore, Bahawalpur and Rahimyar Khan were fined Rs10 lakh. Similarly, show-cause notices have been issued to 20 flourmills in Sheikhupura, Rawalpindi, Jhang, Khushab, Sargodha and Bhakkar and the licences of all flour mills have been suspended for one week.

Bilal Yasin said that licences of two flour mills of Faisalabad have been canceled due to serious violation of laws. He said that action has been taken for the use of non-standard, fungus-infected wheat and the presence of mud balls and defective ingredients in flour grinding. The Food Minister said that heavy fines have been imposed for serious violations of the rules. He warned that flourmill owners should mend their ways because FIRs will be registered against flour millers due to the presence of non-standard flour.

The provincial food minister said that no compromise will be made on the quality of flour and weight of roti. He said that the benefits of reduction in wheat prices are reaching the common man and he will not allow any obstacle to come in the way of this mission. He directed the staff of the food department across the province to be active in the field and said that the quality and prices of flour produced in all flour mills should be closely monitored.

Bilal Yasin said that due to hard work, the price of 20 kg flour has reduced by 1,000 to 1,200 rupees, which has given the common man a lot of relief. He assured that the food department will continue its efforts to ensure merit in the market.