LAHORE: The Pakistan Flour Mills Association (PFMA) has expressed serious concerns over the government policy, calling the Punjab government’s claim regarding the price of wheat contrary to the ground realities.
PFMA Central Chairman Badruddin Kakar said in a statement on Tuesday that the recent steps taken by the Punjab government will have an impact on farmers and the flour mill industry across the country. Despite the abundance of wheat crop last year and the announcement of support price for wheat, Punjab Food Department did not purchase wheat. The flour milling industry bought wheat at high prices to protect farmers from exploitation. He took loans from banks for the purchase. Interest was paid and the cost of storing the wheat was borne. But the Punjab government used its unilateral powers to fix the selling prices of wheat, which is clearly against the principles of open market.