Punjab Assembly grills Salma Butt on flour, wheat rates
Treasury and opposition members pressed Salma Butt on private-sector procurement, flour above Rs190 a kg, thin official stocks and farmer losses.
Government and opposition MPAs jointly questioned Food Minister Salma Butt in the Punjab Assembly on Wednesday over wheat policy, flour prices and reserves.
Opposition MPA Ijaz Shafi said flour had crossed Rs190 per kg and wheat was near Rs5,500 a maund, while law required 3.5 million tonnes of reserves.
Minister Salma Butt said procurement was left to the private sector this year, with over one million tonnes available for the next five months.
Farmers were said to have sold wheat for as little as Rs2,100 a maund earlier, against consumer-side rates near Rs5,000 a maund.
The minister said 90 of 185 privately licensed markets set up after 2023 licensing changes had had their licences cancelled after fraud complaints.