DLP Report
PESHAWAR
The representatives of trade bodies on Tuesday claimed that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has once again been gripped by a severe flour crisis following the Punjab government’s suspension of flour supplies, leading to acute shortages and a sharp surge in prices.
In a joint statement, President of the KP traders Association Malik Mehar Elahi, President of the Flour Dealers Association Haji Waheed Khan, President of the Peshawar Chamber of Commerce and Industry Shakeel Ahmed Khan Saraf, and Traders Association Spokesperson Shahzad Ahmed Siddiqui, along with other officials, strongly condemned the move.
They termed the stoppage of flour supply by Punjab a “blatant injustice” and “political revenge” against the people of KP.
They said that escalating inflation has made it increasingly difficult for poor and middle-class families to afford even two meals a day, raising serious questions about claims of public welfare and constitutional guarantees. The business leaders questioned the rationale behind restricting flour supplies at a time when wheat is available in abundance across the country, stating that depriving a province of its basic food requirement was beyond comprehension.
They emphasized that the Constitution of Pakistan guarantees equal rights to all provinces, and such actions amount to a clear violation of constitutional principles.
The joint statement urged the federal government to take immediate notice of the situation, ensure uninterrupted flour supply to KP, and take strict action against those responsible for creating the crisis.
They warned that if the supply was not restored promptly, the business community and the public would be left with no option but to stage protests, the responsibility for which would rest with the Punjab government and federal authorities.
The leaders made it clear that the business community would not compromise on the fundamental rights of the people and would raise its voice against this “artificial flour crisis” at every available forum.
