Penalizing flour mills to intensify the crisis: Mian Zahid Hussain.

Karachi -- President Pakistan Businessmen and Intellectuals Forum Mian Zahid Hussain on Friday lauded the decision of the ECC to allow the private sector to import wheat.

The decision will tackle shortages, discourage hoarders and stabilize prices to provide relief to the masses, he said.

Hussain said that the decision was delayed unnecessarily and warnings from stakeholders were ignored otherwise mafia would not have been able to exploit poor masses.

Talking to the business community, the veteran business leader said the wheat production is almost 25 million tonnes while the requirement is around 27.5 million tonnes which should be bridged through imports immediately as price in the international market is favourable.

The former minister noted an eye should be kept on the supply and demand situation so that government departments...