The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has decided to file a petition in the Supreme Court against the Punjab government for banning the supply of wheat to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which increases the prices of flour in the province.
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has started preparing to move the Supreme Court against the alleged ban on wheat and flour supply by Punjab. Two senior officers of the Food Department confirmed this and said that legal experts have been consulted on the instructions of Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, and a case will be filed soon.
He said that according to the provincial government’s report, flour prices are increasing in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and this situation is likely to lead to a shortage of flour. He said that a few days ago, a briefing was also given to the Chief Minister in this regard, in which the province’s requirements and current stock were informed.
According to the briefing, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa currently has stock, but there is a risk of a shortage in case of supply from Punjab being stopped, and the price increase has already started.
In the briefing given to Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, it was informed that currently 23.47 million metric tons (MMT) of wheat is available in the country, of which Punjab has the highest 22.94 million, while Punjab’s own requirement is 15.43 million.
The briefing said that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has only 1.74 MMT of stock while the requirement is 5.30 MMT. The Chief Minister was told that Punjab has wheat, but a ban has been imposed on supply to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and for this, check posts have been set up at various places within the provincial boundaries.
Ali Amin Gandapur termed the ban a political vendetta and directed him to approach the Supreme Court. An officer present at the briefing said that 80 percent of the province’s wheat and flour requirements depend on Punjab, and due to political differences, Punjab is taking advantage of this.
He added that the Chief Minister has directed to encourage farmers at the local level and prioritize wheat procurement from them so that dependence on Punjab can be reduced. A food department official said that preparations have been started to move the Supreme Court against Punjab on the instructions of the Chief Minister, and the position will be taken that such a ban is a violation of the Constitution.
He said that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is providing electricity and gas to Punjab and other provinces, and no obstacles are being put in these facilities, so Punjab also has no right to stop the supply of wheat and flour.
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