ISLAMABAD (February 13 2004): The food ministry has opposed ban on transportation of flour to Afghanistan saying the action can adversely hit Pakistan's interest in all senses.

It said that instead of taking any such measure to improve flour availability in the country, the government should take other steps. One of the steps it recommended in this regard is bait for the private sector to attract it to bring its hoarded stocks into the market.

The officials of the food ministry are convinced that bringing in of private sector's stocks of 0.3 million tonnes into the open market is the best solution to resolve flour crisis.

"We have opposed ban on transportation of flour to Afghanistan for the reason that the measure would effect business of flour mills in NWFP, which depend heavily on this activity to generate income and at the same time deprive our exporters from a big market" said an official of the food ministry who was privy to the decision.

The food ministry has come with these observations in its comments to a proposal which suggested ban on export of flour to Afghanistan till the flour supply availability improves in the country.

The ministry argued in its comments that Afghanistan is a big market for Pakistan to export flour and ban in any case would mean depriving the exporters from a major source of income.

A brewing flour crisis is taking turn for the worse in the country, which has pushed-up prices in the open market.

The price of one kg flour was ranging between Rs 12 and Rs 13 in January and in February it is all time high as rates in Rawalpindi/ Islamabad have gone up to Rs 16.

A large section of the society in Pakistan feels that export of flour to Afghanistan was a major cause of its shortage in the domestic market and the government should put a ban on it at least till the flour supply situation becomes normal.

The officials of the food ministry have another argument. They say that millers (majority of them hailing from NWFP) buy wheat from the open market and after grinding it, sell the flour to Afghanistan, and the government action for any ban on this activity does not make sense.

Afghanistan, being a landlocked and war-torn country, is dependant on Pakistan to meet its flour demand, and Islamabad always shows a soft corner for Afghan brethren.

According to information provided by the customs authorities, every day 1000 trucks loaded with flour cross Torkham and Chaman check-posts of Pakistan to enter Afghanistan.

Courtesy Business Recorder