Aleem Khan appeals to millers to cut flour prices in Ramazan

LAHORE:Punjab Senior Minister and Minister for Food Abdul Aleem Khan has appealed to flour mills owners to announce a voluntary reduction in flour prices during the holy month of Ramazan.

The Punjab government's decision of not holding Ramazan bazaars in the wake of Covid-19, make sure that the flour continues to be available at low prices in the market, he said. Abdul Aleem Khan announced adding 5 lakh tonnes of wheat procurement target for the Punjab government so that wheat stock could be made available for any unexpected situation. He expressed these views here Thursday while talking to a delegation of flour mills association led by its Central Chairman Asim Raza. Aleem Khan assured that the legitimate concerns of the mill owners would go away and he would visit himself to review the "on-ground" situation. Senior Minister also appealed to discourage hoarding of wheat saying that doing business and making a profit was everyone's right but illegal activities could not be allowed.

He assured that a new policy on wheat transportation from Punjab to other provinces would be followed and no province, including Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa could buy wheat in Punjab itself. As per the need, the Punjab government will buy wheat for other provinces and the can transport it from here.

Asim Raza, Central Chairman of Flour Mills Association said that wheat had never been scarce and there was still enough stock available, but distribution and other issues still existed.

He assured of all possible cooperation from himself and his colleagues to supply flour at discount rates for Ramazan on the appeal of the Senior Minister. Secretary Food Punjab Waqas Ali Mahmood, former chairmen of Flour Mills Association Mian Muhammad Riaz and Hafiz Ahmed Qadir were also present in the meeting.

Meanwhile, Senior Minister took notice of the closure of transportation of wheat from certain districts of South Punjab and directed Secretary Food for details of this complaint.

Senior Minister immediately convened the meeting of Deputy Commissioners concerned on video link today (Friday) so that the issue could be resolved. He made it clear that according to the Punjab government policy, there was no restriction on bringing and carrying wheat from any district across the province of Punjab to any other district. Smuggling and delivery to another province will not be allowed at all, the Senior Minister made it clear.

Abdul Aleem Khan said that Prime Minister Imran Khan and Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar had great concerns for betterment of Food Department and steps would be taken in the right direction without any further delay.