The Punjab government has decided to enforce the ban on wheat in food factories for 30 days – until October 3 – to increase supply to human consumption. The secretary in the interior of Punjab imposed this restriction under article 144 (6) of the Code of Criminal Procedure 1898.
“The use of wheat in the manufacture of food for food in the province of Punjab is prohibited in the greatest public interest”, the provincial interior secretary Zahid Akhtar Zaman.
Article 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure authorizes the administration of the district to issue orders in the public interest which may prohibit an activity for a specific period of time. Such a ban is applied by the police, who records business against violations. Punishment can withstand a maximum sentence of six months in prison and / or fine.
Punjab now entering its third week of floods, thousands of acres of crops have been destroyed and food prices are expected to increase across the country.
According to the order issued by the interior secretary, wheat will only be used in flour factories for flour production. The government has taken this stage in light of the apprehension of a possible shortage of wheat in the province.
Punjab feed factories are currently hosting the stock of 104,184 metric tonnes of wheat. According to a report by the secretary to the prerice control, the power factories used wheat for poultry feeding.
The notification issued by the original service indicates that the prohibition will remain in force until October 3.
The order was published by the use of Gazette, newspapers and official media in order to improve public awareness, said Punjab Home Department spokesperson.
