From Zeeshan Mirza
KARACHI: Pakistan Flour Mills Association (PFMA) kicked-start the shutter-down strike Thursday morning till the government withdraws newly imposed taxes, cutting the supply of the staple food across the country.
The strike is feared to create a food crisis over the next couple of days, as the majority of wholesalers and retailers stock it for a shorter period of time, it was learned.
While talking to The Express Tribune, Chaudhary Amir Abdullah, Senior Vice Chairman Central, PFMA, said all the 1,600 flour mills nationwide have stopped grinding wheat from Thursday morning. They had already suspended washing of the grain and other preparations for the grinding operations from Wednesday morning.
The association had given the strike call on July 6 for Thursday for an indefinite period after their talks failed with the government. They had given five days to the government to withdraw the taxes and reverse its decision making flour mills the tax collection agents of FBR.
“No government officials have contacted any office-bearers since the collapse of the talks held before July 6,” Abdullah said, adding the government’s rigid behavior led flour millers to go on strike from the pre-defined schedule.
