MANSEHRA, April 8: The NWFP government will take up the issue of flour crisis in the province with Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani during his visit to Peshawar on Wednesday and ask him to lift the ban on inter-provincial transportation of flour and wheat.

Talking to journalists here on Tuesday, provincial Minister for Food Shujah Salim Khan said the NWFP government was taking steps to overcome the shortage of flour and increase in its price.

“Flour is the basic need of everyone but the poor have been badly affected due to its shortage and price hike. We will make sure that the market has enough stock of flour available at affordable rates,” he said.

“Prime Minister Gilani is due in Peshawar on Wednesday and we will ask him to lift the ban imposed by the Punjab government on transportation of wheat and flour to the NWFP. The NWFP alone cannot meet its requirement of flour because a large number of Afghan refugees are also living in the province,” he said.

He said the prime minister would also be requested to increase the wheat quota of the province and ensure steps to curb smuggling of wheat and flour to Afghanistan. He said the provincial government would also seek subsidy on wheat from the federal government.

The minister said he had directed district food offices to ensure provision of wheat to flour mills according to their quota and take action against those involved in hoarding. Shujah Salim, on his first visit to his native Mansehra district since becoming the minister, was accorded a warm welcome at Datta Barial and was taken to the TMA building in a convoy of hundreds of vehicles.

Speaking at the gathering, the minister said he would work for welfare of the people of Mansehra and the NWFP.