Gilgit: Addressing a press conference on Thursday at Gilgit press club, the officials of Flour Mills Association Gilgit-Baltistan threatened to shut down their mills across the region if flour rates are not revised.
They said it’s an injustice to flour mill owners not to revise the rates despite the increasing inflation rate. Currently, flour is sold at 2016 rates thus subjecting mill owners to financial losses. Without an increase in flour rates, it would be difficult to pay employees working in flour mills.
They said they cannot ensure quality as the wheat supplied by the federal government is substandard and unclean. Contrary to the demands of the food department, they also cannot grind 95% of the wheat due to too much dirt in the wheat. The wheat grinding ratio varies across the districts in G-B because the government does not follow a uniform policy.
The officials of the mill association demanded the to introduce revised rates taking into account the current inflation rate in the country else, they would protest by shutting down their mills across Gilgit-Baltistan.
Those addressing the press conference included president Flour Mills Association G-B Sajid Hameed, vice president Nemat Wali, General Secretary Ghulab Shah, Spokesman Zahid Khan, Deputy General Secretary Afaq Mir, and others.