10 June 2004	Thursday	21 Rabi-us-Saani 1425

LAHORE, June 9: The Punjab has decided to continue supplying flour to the NWFP and Balochistan for the time being, as both these provinces have pleaded for relaxation of the ban on flour movement.

The NWFP government on Wednesday invited the Punjab food minister for discussing the issue while representatives of Balochistan were due in the provincial metropolis on June 12.

According to sources in the Punjab Food Department, one of the options that the NWFP has offered is to compensate the Punjab out of its share of the imported wheat. The NWFP chief minister offered this option during his recent visit. But it remains only one of many options.

"In fact, the political situation in Islamabad does not allow the Punjab chief minister to offend certain political forces in other provinces," says an insider. The relaxation in flour ban is a corollary of political developments rather than merits of food securit