Central, KP govts severely criticized for keeping mum on this serious issue, President Junaid Altaf asks to stop step-motherly attitude with KP, restore wheat supply
PESHAWAR
Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Pakistan Flour Mill Association Khyber Pakhtunkhwa severely criticized the federal and provincial government over conspicuous silence of the unconstitutional and illegal restrictions on movement of wheat from Punjab.
The SCCI and PFMA KP expressed fear that the province will face a severe flour crisis and closure of the flour industries if the illegal ban on wheat supply is not lifted by the Punjab government immediately.
SCCI and PFMA KP made it clear that if federal and provincial governments continue to show leniency towards resolution of this serious issues, a protest campaign will be extended across the province. It also demanded to allow the import of wheat at provincial level if the ban on wheat transportation from Punjab wasn’t lifted.
Speaking at a joint press conference here at chamber house on Wednesday, SCCI President Junaid Altaf and PFMA provincial chairman Naeem Butt along with association divisional chairmen, SCCI senior vice president Muhammad Nadeem, vice president Sabir Ahmad Bangash said KP is mostly dependent on Punjab to fulfill its wheat requirements.
However, they said the Punjab government has imposed an illegal ban on wheat supply, which was an open violation of the 151 of the constitution of the country, because the flour mills were on the verge of destruction, while people of the province were forced to buy flour at higher prices.
SCCI president Junaid Altaf said step motherly attitude has always remained with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and no stone will remain unturned to usurp its constitutional rights, adding that more than 300 flour mills were facing a severe crisis situation due to the illegal ban on wheat supply from Punjab.
He said Central and Punjab governments must protect the rights of small federating units, because it is a matter of employment and livelihoods, demanding of the Chief Minister Punjab to immediately lift ban on supply of wheat to avert any flour crisis situation in the province.
PFMA KP Chairman Naeem Butt during the conference while sharing figures with media persons stated that the total wheat requirement of KP is more than 53,000 metric ton against its production of merely 12,000 metric ton, according to which, KP is facing a shortfall of 41,000 metric ton, which would be met by Punjab.
Naeem Butt alleged Punjab government erected check posts on various points wherein huge bribe demanded for allowing vehicles to enter KP. He informed that owing to illegal restrictions, the price of wheat sac has surged at Rs11,600 that also pushed up flour prices, showing an increase of Rs800 20-kg flour bag in the open market, which is completely unjust with 4.5million population of the province.
PFMA provincial chairman severely criticized the central and provincial governments over complete mum on the illegal restrictions on wheat supply from Punjab, warning that flour prices would further go up if the wheat supply from Punjab was not restored immediately.
Replying to various queries of the reporters, Mr Butt said provinces had become autonomous to procure wheat after the passage of the 18th constitutional amendments but KP constitutional rights were usurped in every era, and rubbed the legitimate right of the people, which is completely inappropriate and condemnable.
To a question, he replied that there is no stock of wheat available with the KP government, He also criticized the Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, saying that the Chief Executive of the province has completely failed in protecting the rights of the people of the province. He challenged if the Chief Minister KP, have dire, so he should halt supply of electricity and gas to Punjab.
President Junaid Altaf and Chairman Naeem Butt appealed to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, President Asif Ali Zardari, Field Marshal Gen Syed Asim Munir to play a role in immediate restoration of wheat supply from Punjab. They also urged Chief Minister KP to resolve issues with the Centre by holding table talks.
Later, SCCI President Junaid Altaf and Chairman Naeem Butt accompanied by millers and members blocked the main G.T road in protest and chanted slogans against the illegal ban on wheat movement from Punjab. They were holding placards and banners inscribed with various slogans and threatened to launch a province-wise protest campaign if the ban was not lifted immediately.
