Staff Reporter Rawalpindi
Flour shortage has arisen in the twin cities after the Food Department suspended the supply of subsidized wheat to the flour mills in Rawalpindi region comprising Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Jhelum, Attock, Chakwal.
The Punjab Flour Mills Association Rawalpindi Region has stopped supply of wheat flour to the market and will go on a full-scale strike in the twin cities from Monday, after which a complete strike will be called across the province if issues remain unresolved.
Addressing a meeting, Group Leader Asim Raza, Patron-in-Chief General Rawalpindi Region Tariq Sadiq, Regional Chairman Riazullah Khan, Vice Chairman Atif Nadeem Mirza and other leaders said that the Food Department has refused to issue wheat to the flour mills resulting in a crisis.
They said that flour mills are being forced to buy wheat from South Punjab which is unworkable as it will increase the price of a 20 kg bag of flour by Rs85.
The move will trigger inflation and burden already troubled masses, he said, adding that 20 kg bag of flour could not be sold at the previous price of Rs1075.
Asim Raza said that the cost of delivery of 100 kg wheat from South Punjab to Rawalpindi region will be Rs.400 and flour mills were being pressured to pay for it which is not acceptable as it will leave all the flour mills bankrupt.
