Millers cancel existing flour and wheat orders from local dealers, tandoor owners and grocers
A serious flour crisis has gripped Rawalpindi and Islamabad following the Punjab Food Department’s ban on wheat supplies to flour mills in the twin cities. The Flour Mills Association, following the suspension of wheat supply, announced that it would stop flour supply to the two towns from Monday.
All existing orders of flour, fine flour (maida) and wheat by local dealers, tandoor owners and grocery stores have been cancelled, leading to an emerging shortage in the markets since Friday evening. A meeting of the Rawalpindi Flour Mills Association, chaired by Chief Patron Sheikh Tariq Sadiq, was held to discuss the issue.
The participants expressed concern over the Punjab government’s decision to stop issuing wheat procurement permits to mills based in Rawalpindi and Islamabad. They noted that the twin cities are non-wheat producing regions and are entirely dependent on supplies from the wheat producing districts of Punjab.
The association warned that if the issuance of wheat permits does not resume immediately, the supply of flour will remain suspended, which could worsen the shortage in Rawalpindi and Islamabad. Officials urged the Punjab Food Department to reconsider its decision, warning that the continued disruption in wheat supplies could escalate into a full-blown food crisis in the capital region.
Last month, the Pakistan Naanbai Association had expressed concern over the doubling of prices of flour, fine flour and refined wheat in the last 18 months, as well as the continued closure of tandoors, imposition of fines ranging from Rs 50,000 to Rs 100,000 and closure of bakeries for up to five days.
Naanbai Association central president Shafiq Qureshi said that at the time of formation of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s government and Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s administration in Punjab, a 79 kilogram bag of red flour cost Rs 5,500, while the price has now gone up to Rs 11,000. Similarly, a bag of fine flour, previously priced at Rs 6,200, now sells for Rs 12,600.
“This system of expensive flour and cheap bread cannot continue,” he said. “The Prime Minister once vowed to sell his own clothes to provide affordable flour, but today it is the tandoor operators and bakers who are being exposed. Since the creation of the new Price Enforcement Force, we have been subjected to relentless oppression.”
According to Qureshi, since October 1, as many as 38 tandoors have been demolished without justification, 79 have been sealed for five days and more than 100 owners have been fined between Rs 25,000 and Rs 50,000. “We will no longer remain silent,” he said.
He added that the government and district administration have completely failed to regulate flour prices, and their frustration and administrative failure is trickling down to tandoor owners and bakers through demolitions, fines and arbitrary closures. The association submitted a formal request to the deputy commissioner, calling for an immediate meeting of the price control committee to adjust the prices of roti according to the prevailing flour rates.
