LAHORE: The flour milling industry called off its strike for an indefinite period from Tuesday (today) after ‘intervention’ of the caretaker set-up in Punjab.

Provincial chairman of the Pakistan Flour Mills Association Iftikhar Ahmad Muttoo said here on Monday that they met a three-member ministerial committee earlier in the day and decided to withdraw the strike call on assurances that the industry’s issues would be resolved.

The ministers were S.M. Tanveer (industries), Bilal Afzal (food and P&D), and Mansoor Qadir (higher education). Food Secretary Muhammad Zaman Wattoo was also present in the meeting.

The association disassociated itself from the flour mills indulging in embezzlement of subsidised wheat meant for the poor. There was a consensus among the participants that inspections of flour mills would continue as per SOPs. However, if any official of food department overstepped his jurisdiction, the secretary would be informed of it, said a participant in the meeting.

The committee accepted the demand of the millers that security would be provided at trucking points meant for sale of subsidised flour to thwart any robbery attempts, he added.

It was also decided that a panel would be formed to deliberate upon the demand for export of private grinded flour to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and other provinces, he said.

Regarding exclusion of wheat flour from the schedule of the Punjab Prevention of Speculation in Essential Commodities Act, 2021, it was decided that the panel would submit its recommendations for the purpose.

An official of the food department claimed that due to a prudent strategy, they succeeded in securing flour quota for Feb 14 and till evening, availability of flour for next day had been ensured. He said the department was able to ensure supply of flour with the support of Progressive Flour Millers Group and other ‘patriotic’ flour mills.

Meanwhile, the food secretary has lauded Majid Abdullah and Khaleeque Arshad, leaders of the Progressive Flour Millers Group, for ensuring uninterrupted supply of flour.

Published in Dawn, February 14th, 2023