LAHORE - The Flour Mills Association has announced calling off its strike after successful negotiations with the government, reported a private TV channel on Monday.
The ministerial committee constituted by the Punjab chief minister and food secretary held talks with the association which bore fruit. The association went on a strike in response to the suspension of the wheat quota for over 100 mills.
However, the government and the association representatives held negotiations to find a way out. The association’s concerns will be addressed and its just demands will be fulfilled. Security will be provided at trucking points and the food department will submit its recommendations within three days after deliberation on the demand for delivery of wheat outside the province. Flour millers had earlier announced strike across Punjab from Monday after having dispute with the provincial food department over wheat quota and raids on mills. The announcement was feared to create shortage of flour in Lahore and other cities of the province. The wheat quota of more than 100 mills had been suspended and that some mills in Lahore, Gujrat and Multan had already halted their operations.
Virgin Atlantic suspends services to Pakistan
According to Punjab Flour Mills Association (PFMA) president Iftikhar Matto, the millers wanted the food department to check the mills as per the defined standard operating procedures (SOPs). Punjab Food Secretary Zaman Watto, on the other hand, said no legal action was decided against the millers and that 80 per cent mills had lifted their quota of wheat. He claimed that majority of millers were against the strike. He, however, said the data of those, who were involved in flour shortage by inciting others for holding strike, was being gathered and was shared with the departments concerned.