LAHORE: In light of the first ten days of Muharram, the federal government and owners of flour mills have agreed to resume wheat grinding nationwide after a three-day break. This comes after the former gave assurances that it would be sympathetic to the latter’s demand to have the withholding tax on the supply chain eliminated.
According to The News, a meeting between a four-member government delegation led by 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, and a PFMA delegation led by its Chairman Asim Raza Ahmed and senior member Farrukh Shahzad on Saturday in Islamabad revealed agreement on the matter.
As a result, following a strike that began on July 11, the Pakistan Flour Mills Association (PFMA) and Progressive Flour Millers Group have decided to start operating again on Sunday.
According to a PFMA office bearer, the government negotiation team promised a favorable outcome by July 22. This led to the decision to end the strike.
The discussion between the delegation and the committee was regarded as a critical step in settling the ongoing strike in the flour milling sector.
