LAHORE:Pakistan Flour Mills Association (PFMA) has voiced concern over Punjab government’s wheat policy what it said is against the Constitution and leading to corruption.
The PFMA's central committee, led by Chairman Badruddin Kakar, held a virtual meeting here to discuss the issue. The meeting expressed concern over the Punjab government's policy, which includes setting up checkposts to monitor the movement of wheat and flour. The association alleged that these checkposts have become hubs of corruption, with officials demanding bribes from traders and millers. According to the PFMA, the Punjab government's policy is in contravention of Article 151 of the Constitution, which guarantees the free movement of goods across provinces. The association demanded the government allow the free movement of wheat and flour.
However, spokesperson for the Punjab Food Safety and Consumer Protection Department, has denied any restrictions on the movement of wheat and flour, stating that traders are only required to share information about their movement on a portal.‘There is no restriction on any kind of movement. As per the law, they have to share the information of movement on portal. Nothing more, nothing less,’ the spokesperson said. The aim is to prevent dumping and hoarding, he added. However, he did not comment on corruption charges levelled by the association.
