Successful negotiations, flour crisis averted in Rawalpindi Division

ISLAMABAD, NOV 15  (DNA) – The Pakistan Flour Mills Association has postponed the strike in Rawalpindi Division for a week and restored the supply of flour after successful negotiations with food department officials and district administration.

A new round of talks between the central leaders of Flour Mills Association and the Food Department officials will begin in Lahore on November 16, after which the body of flour millers will announce the final course of action.

The Chief Patronof Pakistan Flour Mills Association Rawalpindi Region, Tariq Sadiq, Chairman Riazullah Khan and other leaders met the Director Food and other senior officials at the Deputy Commissioner’s Office on Monday and conveyed their concerns.

During the meeting it was decided that flour mills would be supplied government wheat from the warehouses of the Food Department located in Rawalpindi, Taxila, Gujar Khan, and Sihala instead of South Punjab and they would not be compelled to buy government wheat from any remote area including South Punjab.

The flour mills association was opposing the decision of the government to buy wheat from far-flung areas as it would have greatly increased the cost of doing business. Food department officials also promised to restore wheat crushing costs, which had been reduced recently. After acknowledging the basic demands, the Flour Mills Association postponed its strike call for one week and restored the supply of flour in the market.

Talks between the central leadership of the Flour Mills Association and the food department will begin in Lahore on November 16, and if successful, the decision of the association will be implemented across Punjab. Leaders of flour millersChief Minister Usman Bazdar is taking personal interest in this issue for which they are grateful. = DNA

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