Parliamentarians worried over 'wheat shortage'.

Byline: Imran Ali Kundi

ISLAMABAD -- National Assembly Standing Committee on Industries and Production Monday expressed grave concerns over shortage of wheat and flour in the country.

National Assembly Standing Committee on Industries and Production met under the chairmanship of Sajid Hussain Turi, MNA, and expressed its concern over the shortage of flour in the country.

Committee members criticized the government and accused it of creating artificial crisis of wheat and flour. The committee said people are struggling to search flour in different parts of the country.

The officials, however, informed the committee that government has already taken measures to control the situation by importing wheat and action against hoarders. Managing Director, Utility Stores Corporation informed the committee that 200,000 metric tons of wheat was provided to USC by the government for selling in the market, after grinding (flour), which was accordingly distributed to all outlets of USC.

He said that flour is available at USC outlets. He also briefed the committee about details of Rs 6 billion relief package announced by the Prime Minister of Pakistan. The MD informed the committee that said amount has been released to Utility Stores Corporation.

The parliamentary committee also discussed the matter regarding 'the reason for nonpayment of dues to the contractors who supply various goods to the Utility Stores'.

The MD responded by saying that USC has already released 50% payments of (pending liabilities) to the contractors but remaining amount will be released in next six months. He further informed that there were huge pending liabilities of Rs. 8.3 billions, which have now shrunk up to Rs. 3.9 billion.

The committee noted the issues being faced by the general public owing to substandard production of automobile vehicles. The members were of the opinion that manufacturer companies i.e. Toyota, Honda and Suzuki were not providing Air Bags and Anti-lock Breaking System (ABS) in automobile vehicles. The representatives from the said companies, however, submitted that they were providing such kind of...