PESHAWAR: The wheat crisis in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is intensifying, with flour prices continuing to rise amid disruptions in supply from Punjab, according to the Pakistan Flour Mills Association (KP chapter).
Association chairman Muhammad Naeem Butt has called on the provincial government to take immediate action, warning that the shortage of wheat is directly affecting the availability of flour and placing an increasing burden on the public.
He said KP, being a wheat-deficient province, depends heavily on Punjab to meet its requirements. However, despite a surplus of wheat and relatively lower prices in Punjab following the arrival of the new crop, transportation to KP is being hindered by what he described as unnecessary and illegal checkpoints.
Mr Butt alleged that trucks carrying wheat are being stopped at multiple points under the pretext of monitoring, causing delays and, in some cases, alleged extortion. He claimed that transporters who refuse to comply face legal action and confiscation of vehicles, disrupting the supply chain.
He termed these restrictions a violation of constitutional provisions guaranteeing free movement of goods between provinces and expressed concern that repeated assurances from authorities to remove such barriers have not been implemented.
The situation has also affected the provincial food department’s ability to build strategic reserves, raising fears of a more severe crisis in the coming weeks.
The association warned that continued disruption in supply could push flour prices further beyond the reach of ordinary citizens and urged the KP government to engage with federal and Punjab authorities to ensure smooth transportation of wheat.
It also called for a comprehensive strategy to procure wheat at lower prices from Punjab and stabilize the local market.
