LAHORE, Nov 13: Federal Minister for Commerce Makhdoom Amin Fahim has assured the flour millers of “a sympathetic consideration to all their issues regarding export of wheat and its products, especially in view of presence of surplus stocks in the country”.

Speaking to the central executive committee of the Pakistan Flour Mills Association (PFMA) here on Saturday, the minister claimed the PPP government assigned high priority to improving economy and providing maximum facilities to the masses.

“Flour milling was an important sector and it was heartening to note it was in a position to export wheat products,” he said and promised: “I would take up all issues raised by the flour millers at the relevant forums.”

He also took the occasion to congratulate growers for making Pakistan self-reliant in wheat.

“The government was making all out efforts to provide maximum benefit to growers for their hard work. The government not only wanted to increase production of agricultural items but also value addition to different crops,” he said.

Earlier, PFMA central chairman Asim Raza dilated upon different problems being faced by the flour milling industry. There were over 1,000 flour mills in the country, with an investment of over Rs50 billion. The number of mills was four to five times more than the requirement of the country.

He proposed to the authorities concerned to stop allowing new flour mills, except for those already in the pipeline. He said over 70 per cent of industry was shut at the moment, which, if made operational, could be utilised for revenue generation and employment creation. Huge surplus wheat stock was available in the country that must be exported, he suggested.

“The government should subsidise loans for millers so that they could grind wheat and export it. The government will recover this amount in shape of taxes when the closed section of this industry becomes operational.”