Punjab flour mills warn of looming wheat crisis amid uneven subsidized supply

By Commerce Reporter

LAHORE: The Punjab Flour Mills Association on Friday expressed serious concern over the unequal distribution of subsidized wheat across the province, stating that the policy is largely limited to Lahore and a few other cities while mills in the rest of Punjab are being ignored.

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Speaking at an association meeting, Punjab chairman Riazullah demanded that wheat should be released to all flour mills on an equal basis, warning that discrimination in supply was creating instability in the market. Senior member Asim Raza Ahmed said the subsidized wheat policy had failed to benefit the entire province, adding that selective distribution was fuelling price hikes.

Former Punjab chairman Iftikhar Ahmed Matoo termed the food department’s unclear policy as the root cause of the crisis, alleging that illegal restrictions were being imposed under the guise of monitoring. He said wheat prices had jumped from Rs3,500 to Rs4,200 per maund over the last ten days due to mismanagement.

The association warned that if timely measures were not taken, wheat prices could surge to Rs4,500 per maund, triggering a full-blown crisis. It also issued a pre-emptive warning that continued uncertainty could severely impact the flour industry and the common consumer.

The Punjab Flour Mills Association urged the provincial government to immediately introduce a transparent and uniform food policy to ensure the availability of subsidized wheat across the province, cautioning that the common man would be the worst affected if the situation persisted.