Summary These issues, he said, are affecting flour mills’ ability to maintain regular production and also making it difficult for the provincial food department to strengthen its strategic wheat reserves.
PESHAWAR (APP) - The Pakistan Flour Mills Association Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chapter has urged Chief Minister Sohail Afridi to take immediate notice of the growing wheat shortage in the province, warning that the situation is causing a steady rise in flour prices and increasing difficulties for the public.
Chairman of the association, Muhammad Naeem Butt, said in a statement that KP is currently facing a serious wheat shortage, directly affecting flour production and supply in local markets.
He said the reduced availability of wheat has led to a decline in flour supply, resulting in daily price increases and placing an additional financial burden on consumers.
He said KP is a wheat-deficient province that relies heavily on supplies from other provinces, particularly Punjab, to meet its needs.
With the arrival of the new wheat crop in Punjab, wheat is available in sufficient quantity and at lower prices, creating an important opportunity for KP to procure affordable wheat and provide relief to the people.
However, he noted that transportation hurdles at various checkpoints are slowing down the movement of wheat into the province, disrupting the supply chain and creating delays for transporters.
These issues, he said, are affecting flour mills’ ability to maintain regular production and also making it difficult for the provincial food department to strengthen its strategic wheat reserves.
Muhammad Naeem Butt warned that continued delays in wheat transportation could further worsen the flour supply situation and push prices higher in the coming days.
He called on the provincial government to formulate an effective strategy to ensure the timely procurement and smooth transportation of wheat so that flour prices can be stabilized and immediate relief can be provided to the public.
He added that prompt and practical measures would help control market prices, maintain uninterrupted flour supply, and prevent the crisis from becoming more severe.
