No flour crisis, surplus wheat available: minister

LAHORE: Punjab Minister for Industries and Trade Mian Aslam Iqbal Tuesday said there was no flour crisis in the province and surplus reserves of wheat were available.

Chairing a meeting of taskforce for price control at CM office to review availability of flour and its prices, the minister directed that the process of supply of wheat to flour mills, preparation of flour and its supply to markets be completely monitored. He said flour mills will have to prepare flour according to the wheat being supplied.

Food Minister Samiullah Ch, Agriculture Minister Nauman Akhtar Langrial, Secretary Industries & Trade, Secretaries of departments concerned and other officials participated in the meeting while commissioners and deputy commissioners also participated in the meeting via video link across the province.

The minister believed due to weak monitoring mechanism such situation emerged. The government has decided to supply 500-kg subsidised wheat to registered Chakkis of Lahore, Multan and Faisalabad and the process of wheat supply has already started where flour will be available at the rate ranging from Rs 42 to 45 per kg. A comprehensive system should be formulated to monitor the process of provision of wheat to the Chakkis and the process of its preparation, the minister said.

Profiteers and hoarders mafia will be defeated jointly, he said and directed for ensuring supply of flour to big stores. There should not be any 15-kg flour bag in the market as focus should be given on 10 and 20-kg flour bags. Commissioners and deputy commissioners should visit model bazaars and give their proposals for bringing improvements, he said.