PESHAWAR:
In response to the ban imposed by Punjab on inter-provincial supply of flour and wheat, the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government has decided to launch government-regulated flour across the province, officials said on Tuesday.
The initiative aims to stabilize prices and ensure availability of the commodity following an increase in costs caused by supply disruption.
Under the plan, wheat will be supplied directly to flour mills in the province, and the Food Department has issued a detailed code of conduct for both flour mills and flour traders.
The move comes after attempts to restore wheat supplies from Punjab failed despite protests from KP authorities, flour mill owners and local bakers.
As per the plan, a 20kg bag of government flour will be sold to the public at Rs 2,220. Flour mill owners will receive the same bag at Rs 2,190. To distinguish government-regulated flour, mills will sell it exclusively in green bags.
All Food Green warehouses will be equipped with CCTV cameras to monitor distribution and sales. The District Food Officer or Ration Controller will compile a list of authorized flour dealers and provide the same to the concerned Deputy Commissioner.
Distributors will have to display a sign saying: “Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government flour available here at Rs 2,220 per 20 kg.”
Flour mills receiving wheat from the Department of Food must submit daily reports detailing the amount of wheat received and flour produced at approved rates.
Failure to comply will make mills ineligible to receive more wheat from the government. Distribution of government wheat will be carried out equally among operating flour mills holding a valid Food Green license. A comprehensive report will be submitted to the Food Directorate through the Deputy Divisional Director of Food.
In districts without operational flour mills, the wheat quota will be redistributed to operational mills in adjacent districts in accordance with the decisions of the PFC.
If the district is not covered by these agreements, the Food Directorate will ensure that the quota is transferred from surplus to deficit districts in accordance with the allocations of the relevant DFC.
