Flour millers unite for 1 million ton wheat export, eye Afghan market
ISLAMABAD, Jan 27: The elected representatives of flour mills across Pakistan threw their weight behind the controversial issue of wheat exports, proposing an initial limit of 0.7 to 1 million tons in a key meeting at the Federal Ministry of National Food Security on Saturday in Islamabad.
The meeting was chaired by Vet Commissioner Imtiaz Gopang, saw industry leaders from all provinces present their views on the sensitive topic.
Among the participants were Badruddin Kakar from Balochistan, Naeem Butt and Haji Iqbal from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Hafiz Ahmad Qadir from Punjab, and Aamir Abdullah from Sindh. Notably, Farrukh Shehzad, another prominent figure in the milling industry, was represented by Asim Raza.
While the issue of exports has divided government officials and the public, the millers presented a unified front in favour of allowing controlled shipments abroad. Naeem Butt and Haji Iqbal highlighted the importance of Afghanistan as a traditional market for Pakistani wheat products, urging the government to consider their needs.
However, a dissenting voice emerged in the form of Hafiz Ahmad Qadir, Senior Vice Chairman of the Punjab Flour Mills Association. He cautioned against knee-jerk reactions and emphasized the need for careful planning. Qadir suggested that export decisions should be made annually in June, based on accurate assessments of domestic production and surplus stocks.
Interestingly, Qadir also cited statistics from the department of statistics, revealing a discrepancy between the reported flour price of Rs. 2816 and the actual market price of Rs. 2700 in Lahore and Rs. 2745 in Rawalpindi. This highlighted concerns about potential price manipulation and the need for greater transparency in the market.
Adding to the complexities, Vet Commissioner Gopang indicated the government's intention to reduce its own wheat purchases, paving the way for increased involvement from private millers. This raises questions about potential shifts in market dynamics and how the government plans to ensure food security for the domestic population amidst export ambitions.
