Flour Mills Association should not go for strike : Aleem Khan

Lahore : Senior Minister Punjab Abdul Aleem Khan while talking to a delegation led by Central Chairman Flour Mills Association Asim Raza said that on the occasion of arrival of Ramadan and wheat procurement campaign, Flour Mills Association should not go for strike.

Abdul Aleem Khan said that there was no restriction on inter-district transport of wheat across Punjab but the procedure for issuance of wheat permits from different districts has been changed. Now the deputy commissioner of the district carrying the wheat has to issue the NOC.

Abdul Aleem Khan said that the present Government is determined to achieve the target of procurement of wheat as per the instructions of Prime Minister Imran Khan and Chief Minister Punjab Sardar Usman Buzdar. He added that wheat is available in abundance in Punjab and In Sha Allah we will have achieve our target 45,000 metric tons soon and even after that the surplus purchase of wheat will be continued so that the needs of the brotherly provinces can be met.

Senior Minister Abdul Aleem Khan clarified that no third party is allowed to pick up wheat from Punjab and Punjab Government will buy wheat and hand it over to KPK. He said that smuggling and stockpiling are evils and it is necessary to get rid of them for which an Ordinance containing severe punishments has already been issued. Similarly, the Government will deal with those who create artificial shortages with iron hands.

The Deputy Commissioners and the administration in each district have been given powers after which the scams in the procurement of wheat will be completely eradicated. Abdul Aleem Khan listened to the demands of the Flour Mills Association and assured them of an immediate solution.

Asim Raza, Central Chairman, Flour Mills Association, assured all possible cooperation to Punjab Senior Minister and Food Minister Abdul Aleem Khan and announced to withdraw the strike call and hoped that the Food Department would take immediate action on their demands. In the meeting Chairman Flour Mills Association Punjab Abdul Rauf Mukhtar, Hafiz Ahmad Qadir and Mian Mohammad Riaz were also present.

It may be recalled that Senior Minister Punjab Abdul Aleem Khan is visiting South Punjab tomorrow (April 24 Friday) where he will review not only the wheat procurement drive in Bahawalpur and Rahim Yar Khan districts but also representatives of local flour and seed mills will meet him to apprise about their issues.