ISLAMABAD: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government on Thursday urged Punjab to withdraw restrictions on wheat and flour movement.
Officials warned that the curbs disrupted supply chains, increased prices, and endangered food security in the province.
In a letter to his Punjab counterpart, KP’s food secretary demanded the immediate lifting of the ban.
He said the move was vital to restoring supply chains, stabilising markets, and protecting food security.
The letter highlighted that KP, a wheat-deficient province, depends on Punjab for around 14,500 tonnes daily.
Officials said the restrictions severely disrupted wheat and flour flow, threatening food availability and price stability.
KP acknowledged Punjab’s recent permit-based allocation of 2,000 tonnes but called it insufficient to meet demand.
The letter noted Punjab ignored repeated communications from KP’s top officials demanding a policy reversal.
KP said the ban violated Article 151(1) of Pakistan’s Constitution, ensuring free inter-provincial trade and movement.
It added that the matter was raised at a high-level meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on October 17.
The KP Flour Mills Association warned that continued restrictions could cause severe wheat and flour shortages.
On Wednesday, KP Chief Minister Mohammad Sohail Afridi condemned Punjab’s “ban” as unconstitutional and unjust.
He chaired a meeting directing officials to demand immediate removal of all transport restrictions.
Afridi said political differences must not deprive citizens of basic necessities like food.
Officials informed the meeting that KP consumes 5.3 million tonnes of wheat annually but produces only 1.5 million.
The rest comes from Punjab and other provinces through inter-provincial trade.
Seed Supply Dispute in Sindh
Meanwhile, tensions rose between the PPP and PML-N as Punjab allegedly halted wheat seed supply to Sindh.
PPP leaders accused the Punjab government of restricting seed distribution despite the wheat sowing season beginning.
Nisar Khuhro, PPP’s Sindh president, called the move “anti-Sindh” and sought Prime Minister Shehbaz’s intervention.
He said Punjab’s Agriculture Regulatory Authority and Food Department blocked hundreds of thousands of seed bags.
