Flour mills across Punjab are set to suspend operations after the Pakistan Flour Mills Association (PFMA) announced a province-wide strike against what it described as anti-industry policies, suspension of quotas and alleged corruption within the food department.
The association claimed that wheat and flour quota permits had been suspended, while several mills were being sealed and fined up to Rs5 million over what it termed minor violations. It also alleged that officials were demanding payments to issue permits and truck lists required to transport wheat, flour, and bran.
The PFMA said it would file a reference with the Anti-Corruption Establishment against the District Food Controller (DFC), alleging that Rs150,000 was being demanded for each permit. The association also questioned the appointment of a Grade-15 employee as DFC and called for a senior official to fill the merit position.
PFMA Chairman Riaz Ullah Khan said flour millers did not want to take advantage of the prevailing political situation and only wanted to run their businesses in accordance with the law. He alleged that DFC Azhar Baloch had established a system involving corruption and bribery in the issuance of transportation permits.
Khan said the provincial government had introduced an online portal through which flour mills could generate permits according to their transportation requirements. However, he alleged that authority over the process was later transferred to the DFC in the Rawalpindi Division, who allegedly demanded between Rs100,000 and Rs150,000 for each permit.
The association also raised concerns over the transportation of bran, a by-product of wheat commonly used as animal feed. Khan said an agreement with the Director General Food had allowed flour mills to submit lists of trucks for transporting bran. However, he alleged that the DFC later discontinued the arrangement and began demanding Rs100,000 to Rs150,000 for the truck lists.
The PFMA further claimed that the transportation of wheat and flour to other districts and provinces had been halted and quotas abolished. The association warned that such restrictions could make transportation more difficult and costly and potentially put upward pressure on wheat and flour prices.
The association said the strike would continue until its concerns regarding quotas, transportation permits and alleged official misconduct were addressed.