LAHORE, May 3: Chairman of Pakistan Flour Mills Association Punjab chapter, Habibur Rehman Khan, has threatened to approach the courts of law in case of failure of the government to issue permits to the mills to procure wheat from other districts within two days.

In a statement issued here on Saturday, he said the food department had failed to remove hurdles in allowing the flour mills to procure wheat from other districts, maintain wheat stocks for 72-hour requirements and problems in issuance of permits in accordance with its agreement with the association.

The failure to implement the agreement on wheat procurement was tantamount to an effort to create flour shortage.

Punjab Food Minister Malik Nadeem Kamran was taking positive steps for controlling the atta crisis but some district coordination officers and district food controllers were sabotaging his efforts.

He said flour mills in Rawalpindi division were unable to maintain the standard of flour because the food department was issuing sub-standard wheat. The mills should be issued 50 per cent imported and 50 per cent indigenous wheat for improving the quality of flour. — Reporter