Flour mills across Punjab will halt operations after the Pakistan Flour Mills Association announced a province-wide strike. The association is protesting what it calls anti-industry policies, quota suspensions, and alleged corruption among food department officials. This Punjab flour millers strike marks a major escalation in tensions between the industry and provincial authorities.

PFMA officials say the government suspended wheat and flour quota permits without adequate justification. Additionally, authorities have sealed several mills and imposed fines of up to Rs. 5 million over what the association calls minor issues. The PFMA also alleges that officials have demanded payments for issuing permits and truck lists used to transport wheat, flour, and bran.

Therefore, the association plans to file a formal reference with the Anti-Corruption Establishment against the District Food Controller. Khan alleges the DFC demanded Rs. 150,000 for each permit issued. The association has also criticized the appointment of a Grade 15 employee as DFC. Instead, PFMA wants a senior official appointed strictly on merit.

PFMA Chairman Riazullah Khan said millers do not want to benefit from political instability. However, they only want to operate their businesses legally. He accused DFC Azhar Baloch of building a system of corruption and bribery around transport permits. Khan explained that the provincial government had introduced an online portal for generating permits. Meanwhile, he claims the DFC in Rawalpindi Division later took over authority for that portal, allegedly demanding Rs. 100,000 to Rs. 150,000 for each permit.

The association also raised concerns about bran transportation, since mills use bran as animal feed. Khan said an earlier agreement with the Director General Food had allowed mills to submit truck lists for bran shipments. Still, he alleges the DFC discontinued that arrangement and began demanding Rs. 100,000 to Rs. 150,000 for the lists instead.

Furthermore, Khan said authorities have halted transportation of wheat and flour to other districts and provinces entirely. The provincial government has also abolished quotas covering these shipments, according to the association. Finally, PFMA warns that these restrictions could push wheat and flour prices higher across the province. This Punjab flour millers strike could also make transportation slower and considerably more expensive for mills.