Punjab’s food safety and consumer protection department has halted the supply of old imported wheat to flour mills over quality concerns and directed mills to lift only locally procured wheat until a final decision is announced.
In a Thursday directive, the department said lifting of the older imported stock had been stopped because of those concerns. It said a decision on the imported wheat was still pending and would be conveyed once it was finalised.
Millers had flagged the stock for months
The step follows months of complaints from flour millers about imported wheat released from government warehouses. Stakeholders said the suspension effectively recognises that the older stock may not be fit for milling, and it has renewed questions about earlier checks that allowed releases to continue.
When mill owners represented by the Pakistan Flour Mills Association (PFMA) first raised the issue several months ago, the department said it would take the matter to the federal government. Distribution of the stock continued in the meantime.
Millers described discoloured and shrivelled grains, insect infestation, and possible fungal growth. At that stage the department held that the wheat was within permissible limits and that its own assessments did not back the complaints.
What millers say about the grain and flour
According to millers, imported wheat bought several years ago and kept in open and covered warehouses had weakened in appearance, gluten strength, and nutritional value. They said flour made from it was darker, bound poorly, and carried an unpleasant smell.
They also pointed to consumer complaints and said their choices were limited because official releases leaned heavily on older stocks to meet demand.
Local stocks and a wider review
Concerns are not limited to imports. Stakeholders have also flagged locally procured wheat stored in Punjab for two to three years in gunny bags and on open plinths. They argue its condition could be similar to older wheat imported through the Pakistan Agricultural Storage and Services Corporation (PASSCO)—the federal body that stores and supplies wheat—and have asked for its suitability for human consumption to be assessed.
They are pressing for a broader look at wheat procurement and storage practices in Punjab, so that quality is checked across both imported and local stocks rather than only PASSCO supplies.
Timeline: what has happened so far
- Several months ago: PFMA millers report quality problems with imported wheat from government warehouses.
- Same period: department says the wheat is within permissible limits; releases continue while it says it will approach the federal government.
- Thursday: department halts lifting of old imported wheat and tells mills to use only locally procured wheat pending a final decision.
Aasan alfaaz mein
Punjab ne purani imported wheat flour mills ko dena band kar di hai kyunke quality ke masail hain. Ab mills ko sirf local wheat uthane ko kaha gaya hai jab tak aakhri faisla nahi hota. Pehle millers ne dana kharab hone, keeron aur smell ki shikayat ki thi. Is ka matlab yeh hai ke rotay aur aate ki quality behtar rakhne ki koshish ho rahi hai, lekin local stock ki bhi check maangi ja rahi hai.
