SUKKUR (March 06 2004): All the flour mills in interior Sindh on Friday observed strike against non-supply of wheat by the government.

Talking to NNI, the Vice-Chairman of the Pakistan Flour Mills Association (Sindh chapter), Ijaz Ali Baloch, said that all the flour mills in Sukkur division would remain closed for indefinite period.

However, the flour mills in Larkana, Hyderabad and Mirpurkhas regions would observe two-day strike, he said.

Referring to the provincial government's claim that sufficient wheat stock was available in the godowns, Baloch alleged the flour mills were being denied smooth supply of the wheat due to mismanagement, which created the wheat crisis in the province.

He said that the inhabitants of the interior Sindh were facing hardships in getting wheat flour, but the government was paying no heed to this problem.

Ijaz Baloch said that despite assurances by the provincial ministers and high ranking government officials, the Provincial Food Department had failed in meeting the demands of the flour mills for the supply of wheat.

He said that the flour mills owners were compelled to purchase wheat from open market, which caused hike in flour prices.

He announced that all the flour mills in Sukkur region would be locked on Saturday in protest and the keys would be handed over to the district Nazims.

He dispelled the impression of rift in flour mills association, and said that the Karachi flour mills owners would also join the strike soon.

Courtesy Business Recorder