KP Faces a Flour Crisis as Punjab Cuts Wheat Supply

[Kabira]

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) is staring at a possible flour crisis as its wheat supply has been cut down by the Punjab government.

The sudden disruption of wheat supply has caused a sharp increase in flour prices in the province. As per reports, flour mills have increased prices by Rs. 80 for a 20kg bag in KP.



According to Pakistan Flour Mills Association Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chairman Haji Mohammad Iqbal, there was no reason given by the Punjab government for the uninformed supply cut.

“We met the food department’s officials and demanded an increase in wheat quota for local mills from 2,000 metric tons to 5,000 metric tons daily, but the government is not ready to do so,” he said.

He said that due to an acute shortage of wheat, 50 percent of the flour mills have shut down in KP, while others will also close down soon if the situation continues.

Iqbal disclosed that the province receives 95 percent of its wheat supply from Punjab, which has been completely halted for the past couple of days.

He fears that the upcoming Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl’s march on top of the two-day traders’ strike will only worsen the crisis.

We took up these issues with the provincial government, but unfortunately, no one is willing to pay heed to them.

KP Food Minister Qalandar Khan Lodhi said that he is aware of the situation, but he’s helpless to resolve it.

“What can I say,” was his response when asked about his plans to counter the possible crisis.

He hoped that the meeting between KP food secretary and Punjab authorities will restore the wheat supply.
https://propakistani.pk/2019/10/26/kp-faces-a-flour-crisis-as-punjab-cuts-wheat-supply/

 

[HAIDER]

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) is staring at a possible flour crisis as its wheat supply has been cut down by the Punjab government.

The sudden disruption of wheat supply has caused a sharp increase in flour prices in the province. As per reports, flour mills have increased prices by Rs. 80 for a 20kg bag in KP.



According to Pakistan Flour Mills Association Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chairman Haji Mohammad Iqbal, there was no reason given by the Punjab government for the uninformed supply cut.

“We met the food department’s officials and demanded an increase in wheat quota for local mills from 2,000 metric tons to 5,000 metric tons daily, but the government is not ready to do so,” he said.

He said that due to an acute shortage of wheat, 50 percent of the flour mills have shut down in KP, while others will also close down soon if the situation continues.

Iqbal disclosed that the province receives 95 percent of its wheat supply from Punjab, which has been completely halted for the past couple of days.

He fears that the upcoming Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl’s march on top of the two-day traders’ strike will only worsen the crisis.

We took up these issues with the provincial government, but unfortunately, no one is willing to pay heed to them.

KP Food Minister Qalandar Khan Lodhi said that he is aware of the situation, but he’s helpless to resolve it.

“What can I say,” was his response when asked about his plans to counter the possible crisis.

He hoped that the meeting between KP food secretary and Punjab authorities will restore the wheat supply.
https://propakistani.pk/2019/10/26/kp-faces-a-flour-crisis-as-punjab-cuts-wheat-supply/

They get enough wheat ...they need to curtail smuggling to Afghanistan.

 

[Pakhtoon yum]

I'm.surpired kp doesn't produce enough wheat to support itself. This is ridiculous.

I've said this before and I'm saying it now, all provinces should be made to compete with each other. It will lead to a higher life standard and overall industrialization.

 

[HAIDER]

I'm.surpired kp doesn't produce enough wheat to support itself. This is ridiculous.

I've said this before and I'm saying it now, all provinces should be made to compete with each other. It will lead to a higher life standard and overall industrialization.

KP feeding almost whole Afghanistan.

 

[Kabira]

They get enough wheat ...they need to curtail smuggling to Afghanistan.

I know, and today KP government started releasing wheat from its own stock and banned movement of wheat to Afghanistan and other provinces. But before some people used to play provincial card.

K-P bans export of wheat to Afghanistan


PESHAWAR: To tackle the shortage of wheat and flour in the province and to control inflation, the provincial government on Monday decided to ban the export of wheat and flour to Afghanistan and other provinces by implementing section 144.

This was directed by Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Chief Minister Mahmood Khan on Monday while chairing a meeting regarding the establishment of Hattar Special Economic Zone.

Mahmood stated that adequate quantity of wheat and flour is available in the province. Additionally, he disclosed that the federal government has also agreed to provide 300,000 metric tonnes of wheat to the province.

To tackle shortages, the chief minister directed to take strict action against hoarders, stating that all those who are involved in creating an artificial shortage will face strict action as per the law.

Resolving issues of traders, CM Mahmood further directed to revise the proposed Urban Property Tax (UPT) in consultation with the trader community. Practicable proposals should be finalised and submitted within 15 days, he directed.

Mahmood further directed to ensure the development of infrastructure and provision of required facilities to industries in the Hattar Special Economic Zone (HSEZ)on a fast-track basis while adopting a workable development model for the 1,000 acres Hattar extension project covering.

In this regard, TEVTA was directed to introduce those courses which help meet the needs of industrial units so that people can be provided with livelihood opportunities.

The meeting was briefed in detail regarding progress made on HSEZ, which is spread over an area of 424 acres, and the Hattar Economic Zone extension project. The CM was told that designs for establishing infrastructure are being revised and that they are expected to be completed by October 31.

Furthermore, it is estimated that a grid station for the zone will cost Rs484 million and work on it is expected to be completed by February 2020. The Peshawar Electric Supply Company (PESCO), it was disclosed, has already prepared a project concept-1 (PC-I) of the grid station and it is expected to the presented to the K-P planning ministry for final approval.

The plan, officials said, include the short, medium and long-term plans for the project. Under the short-term plan, a double circuit 11 KiloVolt (KV) feeder line will be set up from the 132 KV grid station in Haripur. The total estimated cost of the project will be Rs70 million and will be completed in December.

Under the midterm plan, 40 Mega Watts (MW) of power will be provided by constructing a 15-kilometre double circuit 132 KV transmission line from the 132 KV grid station in Haripur. The estimated cost for this project is Rs803 million and a completion date of December 2021.

In the long-term plan, a second 132 KV transmission line will be set up from the 220 KV proposed grid station in Hattar to ensure the provision of 110 MW of electricity.

The meeting was further informed that the zone will require 24 Million Cubic Feet per Day (MMCFD) for which a 48 km-long gas transmission line will have to be laid from Kamra. This will cost an estimated Rs1.93 billion. The PC-I of the project is being prepared and will be presented to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) for final approval.

Mahmood stated that the provision of gas to industrial units is of paramount importance and all necessary steps should be taken for the provision of gas to the industrial zone on an emergency basis. Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) chief executive officer assured the CM that gas will be provided to industries.

The meeting was also briefed about industrial activities in the Hattar Special Economic Zone. Under the first six phases, 350 industrial units of the 450 units are currently operating.

Mahmood Khan stressed the need for eradicating unemployment by promoting industrialization which will not only help provide job opportunities but will also ensure economic growth, development and self-sustainability of the province.

Peshawar bans wheat movement

The Peshawar Deputy Commissioner, under Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, has prohibited the movement of wheat, wheat flour and wheat fine flour from outside the territorial jurisdiction of the district.

A statement from the deputy commissioner’s office read that anyone found this order will be prosecuted under Section 188 of Pakistan Penal Code. “This order shall come into force immediately, and shall remain in force for 30 days.”

Published in The Express Tribune, October 29th, 2019.

 

[Kabira]

I'm.surpired kp doesn't produce enough wheat to support itself. This is ridiculous.

I've said this before and I'm saying it now, all provinces should be made to compete with each other. It will lead to a higher life standard and overall industrialization.

KP wheat production is about 5% of Pakistan while population is 18%.

@ziaulislam I remember you used to play provincial card few years ago. All KP government had to do even back then was to prevent smuggling of wheat to Afghanistan and release wheat from reserves. Now since KP and federal government is same, they have decided to not make issue of it. Next time when some nationaist make issue of punjab stopping wheat, I'll point them towards this.

 

[TNT]

I doubt if there is any smuggling possible now. Atleast not large ones. The border is almost fully fenced with military deployed. The legal wheat export goes from punjab and is not taken from KPK.
Punjab have huge fertile plains and wheat is produced and managed easily, KPK have mountainous area and expensive to produce wheat. KPK on the other hand provides alot of energy to Punjab, so next time if KPK decides not to supply punjab with any power, how would everyone feel?

Provinces should work as organs, providing each other with its needs and keeping the whole organism, the state, strong and powerful.

 

[Kabira]

I doubt if there is any smuggling possible now. Atleast not large ones. The border is almost fully fenced with military deployed. The legal wheat export goes from punjab and is not taken from KPK.
Punjab have huge fertile plains and wheat is produced and managed easily, KPK have mountainous area and expensive to produce wheat. KPK on the other hand provides alot of energy to Punjab, so next time if KPK decides not to supply punjab with any power, how would everyone feel?

Provinces should work as organs, providing each other with its needs and keeping the whole organism, the state, strong and powerful.

The smuggling was happening which resulted in recent increase of price. Otherwise there was no need to ban wheat supply to Afghanistan from KP.

"The minister said the federal government recently decided to allow the export of semolina and fine flour (maida) to Afghanistan prompting the smuggling of flour under the garb of the export of the flour by-products."
https://www.dawn.com/news/1513483/kp-govt-increases-wheat-supply-to-mills-restricts-flour-movement

 

[Pakhtoon yum]

KP wheat production is about 5% of Pakistan while population is 18%.

@ziaulislam I remember you used to play provincial card few years ago. All KP government had to do even back then was to prevent smuggling of wheat to Afghanistan and release wheat from reserves. Now since KP and federal government is same, they have decided to not make issue of it. Next time when some nationaist make issue of punjab stopping wheat, I'll point them towards this.

Everyone in kpk knows everything gets smuggled to Afghanistan. From chicken to dry fruits, but the only people that dont know are the ones with the power to do anything. All their big pockets have blinded their eyes

I doubt if there is any smuggling possible now. Atleast not large ones. The border is almost fully fenced with military deployed. The legal wheat export goes from punjab and is not taken from KPK.
Punjab have huge fertile plains and wheat is produced and managed easily, KPK have mountainous area and expensive to produce wheat. KPK on the other hand provides alot of energy to Punjab, so next time if KPK decides not to supply punjab with any power, how would everyone feel?

Provinces should work as organs, providing each other with its needs and keeping the whole organism, the state, strong and powerful.

Fabrication of documents and stamps. There needs to be a fully functional border crossing not just a gate. All imports and exports need to be monitored.

@ghazi52 what happened to that torkham upgradtion?

KP feeding almost whole Afghanistan.

Afghanistan should've been annexed by now.

 

[Talwar e Pakistan]

KP feeding almost whole Afghanistan.

You do realize that it is called trade, right? Afghanistan pays for this wheat; we do not give it off as charity unless they are in dire need of it (and that is based upon the decision of the state, not the province), we have a monopoly over this and earn good money that supports both the provincial and federal economy.

I'm.surpired kp doesn't produce enough wheat to support itself. This is ridiculous.

I've said this before and I'm saying it now, all provinces should be made to compete with each other. It will lead to a higher life standard and overall industrialization.

KPK has a population soon approaching 40 million and only an 1/8th of it's land is cultivable, meaning it cannot be "food independent".

All provinces depend on each other.

 

[ziaulislam]

KP wheat production is about 5% of Pakistan while population is 18%.

@ziaulislam I remember you used to play provincial card few years ago. All KP government had to do even back then was to prevent smuggling of wheat to Afghanistan and release wheat from reserves. Now since KP and federal government is same, they have decided to not make issue of it. Next time when some nationaist make issue of punjab stopping wheat, I'll point them towards this.

here the decision has been made by provincial govt to stop export into Afghanistan..this is totally different than Punjab govt stating no supply to KPK

its like comparing rainy weather with indoor wrestling..they arent connected right???

being from farmer family what i am saying this will do nothing apart from discouraging growing..there should be no export limitation..allow them to export as much as they can..if you are deficient hey you can import, the world is always surplus in wheat...

 

[Talwar e Pakistan]

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) is staring at a possible flour crisis as its wheat supply has been cut down by the Punjab government.

The sudden disruption of wheat supply has caused a sharp increase in flour prices in the province. As per reports, flour mills have increased prices by Rs. 80 for a 20kg bag in KP.



According to Pakistan Flour Mills Association Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chairman Haji Mohammad Iqbal, there was no reason given by the Punjab government for the uninformed supply cut.

“We met the food department’s officials and demanded an increase in wheat quota for local mills from 2,000 metric tons to 5,000 metric tons daily, but the government is not ready to do so,” he said.

He said that due to an acute shortage of wheat, 50 percent of the flour mills have shut down in KP, while others will also close down soon if the situation continues.

Iqbal disclosed that the province receives 95 percent of its wheat supply from Punjab, which has been completely halted for the past couple of days.

He fears that the upcoming Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl’s march on top of the two-day traders’ strike will only worsen the crisis.

We took up these issues with the provincial government, but unfortunately, no one is willing to pay heed to them.

KP Food Minister Qalandar Khan Lodhi said that he is aware of the situation, but he’s helpless to resolve it.

“What can I say,” was his response when asked about his plans to counter the possible crisis.

He hoped that the meeting between KP food secretary and Punjab authorities will restore the wheat supply.
https://propakistani.pk/2019/10/26/kp-faces-a-flour-crisis-as-punjab-cuts-wheat-supply/

This usually happens when there is a shortage.

 

[ziaulislam]

You do realize that it is called trade, right? Afghanistan pays for this wheat; we do not give it off as charity unless they are in dire need of it (and that is based upon the decision of the state, not the province), we have a monopoly over this and earn good money that supports both the provincial and federal economy.


KPK has a population soon approaching 40 million and only an 1/8th of it's land is cultivable, meaning it cannot be "food independent".

All provinces depend on each other.

WRONG
kpk has millions of acre of barren cultivable land in southern KPK which can be cultivated if other provinces agree to give due share of KPK of water(which is due share not extra water it isnt even 20% of total water)..if its given its share and if KPK use advance methods like drip irrigation on that water it can feed whole Pakistan..(so can punjab and sindh double its production by using drip irrigation)

 

[Dr-who]

Previously Pmln of Punjab stopped the transfer of wheat to Pti of Kpk, and there was all hue & cries over it. Now we see same thing between both provinces which are ruled by same party.
What we need is to ensure is to begin agricultural practices on modern technique.

 

[Pakhtoon yum]

Previously Pmln of Punjab stopped the transfer of wheat to Pti of Kpk, and there was all hue & cries over it. Now we see same thing between both provinces which are ruled by same party.
What we need is to ensure is to begin agricultural practices on modern technique.

Nahh, we like being stuck in the 1300s