It alleged that over 100 vehicles loaded with grains have been impounded by the food department near Mianwali due to which respective mill owners are facing heavy expenses under the head of vehicles' fare.
PFMA Punjab Chairman Habib ur Rehman Leghari, Group leader Asim Raza Ahmad and others in a joint statement issued here on Thursday claimed that they had informed the Chief Secretary Punjab, Secretary Food and Director Food Punjab about the development in writing. They said that they have made it clear that flour supply under Ramazan package can get disturbed if the department officials continue impounding vehicles of the mills.
Habib Leghari said that the millers had held a meeting with the Chief Secretary Punjab some days back and the Chief Secretary had assured that mills can buy wheat from the open market and department will not impound mills' vehicles. He said that Director Food Punjab and PSO to Chief Secretary were nominated as focal person to resolve the issues being faced by the mills. However, he alleged that situation still persists as DFC Mianwali and DD Sargodha is still impounding the vehicles going towards Rawalpindi. He claimed that a crisis like situation may occur in twin cities if wheat is not allowed to be transported. He also claimed that food department officials were also not responding to their phone calls.
Leghari said that flour mills were buying wheat at Rs1350 per maund while after adding transportation charges it is costing them at Rs1400 per maund. He claimed that food department officials after impounding mills' vehicle make a bill at the rate of Rs1300 per maund and that too in the name of the driver thus causing loss of millions to the mills. They claimed that they had informed the officials in writing and responsibility of any crisis would lie on the food department.