LAHORE, Feb 24: The Punjab government cannot ban movement of wheat to other provinces as it is a constitutional matter and the federal government as well as other provinces may object to it.

Minister for Food Chaudhry Iqbal told the Punjab Assembly on Tuesday while replying to an adjournment motion of PPP's Samiullah Khan and MMA's Dr Waseem Akhtar regarding shortage of wheat flour in various cities of the province.

The ban would also go against the interest of wheat growers as they might not get a fair return of their crop in the absence of major buyers from other provinces, he added.

Admitting that the open policy was creating some problems, the minister said the government was trying to overcome the same. Denying reports of cut in wheat quota of flour mills by the food department, he said all DCOs had been directed to ensure provision of flour at fixed rate of Rs210 per 20kg bag and take strict action against profiteers.

Assuring the house of even stringent measures, he said so far fines had been imposed on 22 profiteers in Rawalpindi, 45 in Lahore, seven in Gujranwala and three in Jhelum.

Reacting to Samiullah's allegation that food officials were conniving with flour millers in creating an artificial shortage of flour, the minister challenged the PPP man to point out the millers involved in the malpractice and he would take against them immediately.

The minister agreed to visit some localities of Lahore with Samiullah and Dr Waseem to check at what price flour was being sold to ordinary customers. Deputy Speaker Shaukat Mazari directed Chaudhry Iqbal to nominate Samiullah on the task force established to ensure provision of flour at prescribed rates.