Due to the government of Sindh’s failure to furnish wheat, flour millers have declared an indefinite strike beginning today (Wednesday).
At a press conference held at the Karachi Press Club (KPC) on Tuesday, the Chairman of the Pakistan Flour Mills Association (PFMA), Chaudhary Amir Abdullah, and other office-bearers stated that the Sindh government’s policies have rendered the flour mills inoperable.
Aamir stated that the movement of wheat to Karachi’s mills is nearly halted due to checkpoints in various parts of Sindh. He claimed that wheat grain vehicles bound for Karachi are released in exchange for bribes ranging from Rs 250,000 to Rs 300,000.
He reported that flour manufacturers in Karachi have deposited approximately Rs 4 billion with the government of Sindh for wheat grains, despite not receiving wheat.
“From today on, all flour mills in the city will be closed indefinitely,” he added.
Further, the chairman of the PFMA stated that significant quantities of wheat are being stocked in Sindh, while the Sindh government is taking action against flour mills to conceal its incompetence. He urged the Food Minister, including the Food Secretary, to fulfil his promise to supply wheat.
The flour mills are currently in the same position as they were on April 13, 2023. Karachi is supplied with wheat from interior Sindh and Punjab; however, the food department of Sindh has established 13 Check posts, preventing mills from bringing wheat into the megacity. Chaudhary Amir stated that 70 percent of flour manufacturers in Karachi have ceased operations due to a lack of wheat grains, with the Karachites bearing the consequences.
The PFMA requested assistance from the PPP’s Asif Zardari and Bilawal Bhutto Zardari to restore the mills’ wheat grain supply.