Lahore – October 27: Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari on Sunday dismissed allegations that the provincial government had imposed restrictions on the inter-provincial movement of wheat, calling the reports “baseless propaganda contrary to facts.”
Her remarks, carried by the state-run APP, came in response to criticism from the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Sindh governments, which accused Punjab of curbing wheat supplies to their provinces and disrupting national food chains.
Earlier this week, the KP government, in an October 23 letter, urged Punjab to lift what it described as “restrictions” on wheat and flour movement, warning that the measures were inflating prices and threatening food security. Similarly, the PPP-led Sindh government accused Punjab of blocking the supply of wheat seed.
Rejecting the accusations, Bokhari said wheat and flour were being transported across provincial borders “through official permits and digital monitoring systems,” ensuring transparency and traceability. She added that the procedure aimed to prevent hoarding and profiteering rather than limit trade.
“If Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s flour demand exceeds its production capacity, it should release its own stocks or procure wheat from Passco,” the minister stated. “Punjab cannot compromise the rights of its people to affordable flour for another province’s political theatrics.”
Taking a swipe at KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, Bokhari remarked that instead of “staging protests outside Adiala Jail,” he should focus on reviving the province’s non-functional flour mills, which she said numbered over 200.
Reiterating that “there is no ban on inter-provincial wheat movement,” Bokhari cited Article 18 of the Constitution and national wheat policy guidelines, which ensure the free flow of agricultural goods across provinces.
She further said Punjab had maintained 0.885 million metric tonnes of wheat reserves, worth about Rs100 billion, to ensure price stability and supply security. Flour mills, she added, were being provided wheat at Rs3,000 per maund to maintain affordability for consumers.
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“The welfare of Punjab’s people remains our top priority,” she said, crediting Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s “farsighted and organised policies” for stabilising the wheat supply chain.
