KP business, flour mill bodies warn of flour crisis over Punjab wheat movement restrictions

The Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Pakistan Flour Mills Association Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chapter on Wednesday warned of a possible flour crisis in the province, criticising restrictions on wheat movement from Punjab and demanding immediate intervention from federal and provincial authorities.

Addressing a press conference at the Chamber House, SCCI President Junaid Altaf and PFMA KP Chairman Naeem Butt said Khyber Pakhtunkhwa remained dependent on Punjab to meet a major portion of its wheat requirements.

They termed the restrictions on wheat transportation unconstitutional and said the move violated Article 151 of the Constitution related to free trade and movement between provinces.

According to Naeem Butt, the province requires around 53,000 metric tonnes of wheat but produces only about 12,000 metric tonnes locally, leaving a shortfall of nearly 41,000 metric tonnes that is largely met through supplies from Punjab.

He said more than 300 flour mills in the province were facing operational difficulties because of disruption in wheat supplies.

The business leaders warned that if the restrictions were not removed immediately, the province could face shortages of flour and wheat products.

They also demanded that the federal government allow provinces to independently import wheat if interprovincial movement restrictions remained in place.

Junaid Altaf urged the Punjab government to lift the restrictions and said federating units should be allowed uninterrupted access to essential commodities.

Senior SCCI office-bearers Muhammad Nadeem and Sabir Ahmad Bangash also attended the press conference.

Following the media briefing, flour mill owners and chamber members staged a protest on GT Road, where demonstrators blocked traffic and chanted slogans against the wheat movement restrictions.

Protesters carrying banners and placards warned that a province-wide protest campaign would be launched if the issue was not resolved.