Flour Mill operations to resume ahead of muharram

After a three-day suspension, wheat grinding operations across Pakistan are set to resume following an agreement between the federal government and flour mill owners. The decision comes in anticipation of the first 10 days of Muharram, crucial for religious observances.

According to details, a breakthrough was achieved during a meeting in Islamabad where a government delegation, including Federal Minister for Law Azam Nazir Tarar, State Minister for Finance Ali Pervez, Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Cheema, and FBR Chairman Amjed Zubair Tiwana, met with flour mill owners.

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Chairman Asim Raza Ahmed and senior member Farrukh Shahzad led the PFMA delegation, expressing concerns over the withholding tax on the supply chain. After assurances from the government team regarding a sympathetic consideration of their demands, both sides reached consensus on Saturday.

Consequently, the PFMA and Progressive Flour Millers Group have announced the end of their strike, with operations scheduled to resume from Sunday onwards. An official from PFMA confirmed that the decision to halt the strike was made in anticipation of a positive resolution by July 22.

The resumption of flour grinding operations comes as a relief to tandoor owners in major cities, who had voiced concerns about an imminent shortage that could impact the availability of tandoori roti and naans during Muharram gatherings.