Punjab flour mills announce strike over ‘anti-industry’ policies

Profit by Pakistan Today reported that flour mills across Punjab have decided to halt operations after the Pakistan Flour Mills Association (PFMA) called a province-wide strike. The body is protesting what it calls anti-industry policies, including suspended wheat and flour quota permits, sealed mills and penalties reaching Rs5 million for minor offences. Supply disruptions in the province are possible if the stoppage goes ahead.

The association further claimed bribery is widespread around the District Food Controller (DFC), with mills asked for Rs100,000 to Rs150,000 per transport permit despite an online portal launched by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz. It plans to lodge a complaint with the Anti-Corruption Establishment over the alleged Rs150,000 charge, and has demanded the removal of a Grade-15 employee appointed as DFC in favour of a senior official chosen on merit.

The PFMA chairman also said a prior understanding with the Director General Food, requiring only truck lists for bran shipments used as animal feed, was discontinued, and mills now pay Rs100,000 to Rs150,000 for those lists. He added that movement of wheat and flour between districts and across provinces has been stopped and quotas abolished, raising costs and pushing up flour prices.