With the disruption of flour supply from Punjab, people of the province are deprived of a vital commodity.
PESHAWAR:
Due to emerging differences between the federal and provincial governments, the local people of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) are forced to purchase flour at exorbitant prices. With the supply of wheat and flour from Punjab to KP stopped since the last three weeks, the province’s flour mills are on the brink of collapse.
Just a few days ago, a 20 kilogram bag of flour in KP was available for Rs 1,400, however, within a week, the price rose to Rs 2,100 and this week it has shot up further to Rs 2,900. Meanwhile, the price of white flour has increased from Rs 1,800 to Rs 3,200 for a 20-kilogram bag.
Even as the flour crisis intensifies in the province, the KP government, instead of addressing this crucial issue, remains busy with its internal political affairs. The provincial Food Minister has done nothing more than issue statements, so 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 garment business in Peshawar’s Firdous market, came to the flour market to buy flour. Last month, he bought two 20kg bags of flour for Rs 3,000. However, this week, one store was selling them for Rs 5,400 and another for Rs 5,600.
Rehan told The Express PAkGazette 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 the outskirts of Peshawar in Chamakni, shared similar complaints. “It is very sad that warehouses in rural and urban markets are full of flour. The government could buy a profit margin from them and help the poor, but both the regional administration and the food department are silent,” criticized Jan.
According to information received by The Express PAkGazette, 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 measure that will worsen the plight of the public.
Naeem Butt, president of Pakistan Flour Mills Association (KP), opined that the unconstitutional restrictions on the movement of wheat and flour from Punjab were very worrying as 90 per cent of the flour industry in KP had closed down.
“Due to Punjab’s restrictions, prices of flour, refined flour (maida) and other products are increasing daily. The price of a 20kg bag of flour, which cost Rs 1,600 before August 25, has now gone up to Rs 3,000. KP’s total wheat requirement is 5.3 million metric tonnes but the province produces only 1.2 million metric tonnes,” Butt said.
Junaid Altaf, president of Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry, also expressed serious concern over the ongoing wheat crisis in the province. “The fragile flour industry is on the verge of destruction. Senior 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,” Altaf urged.
When The Express PAkGazette asked flour trader Kifayat Khan in Peshawar about the sudden price hike, he explained, “It has been almost a month and not a single bag of flour can cross from Attock bridge. In Punjab, a 20kg 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 was not giving KP the arrears of NFC Award and FATA’s annual special package. “Politics aside, basic public needs should never be ignored in these matters,” Jhagra said.
