KP leaders to deliberate on 'wheat ban' today

PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly Speaker Babar Saleem Swati has convened a meeting of parliamentary leaders in the provincial assembly on Monday to discuss the suspension of wheat supply from Punjab to KP and the continued closure of CNG stations across the province.

The meeting was called after Governor Faisal Karim Kundi, Chief Minister Mohammad Sohail Afridi and the speaker met and reviewed issues arising from the halt in wheat movement from Punjab to KP as well as the prolonged shutdown of CNG stations.

According to an invitation letter issued by the speaker, the session will be held at 11am in the Rahman Baba Conference Room of the assembly secretariat. The agenda includes discussion on what the letter described as the unconstitutional ban on the transportation of wheat and flour from Punjab and the unconstitutional limited supply of natural gas and closure of CNG stations in KP.

The governor, chief minister and speaker, who met during the oath-taking ceremony of new ministers, described the closure of CNG stations and the suspension of wheat supply from Punjab as a violation of the Constitution.

Participants and agenda

An official statement issued by the Governor’s House said the meeting between the three leaders also covered the law and order situation in the province and the holding of the South Asia Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians’ Conference in KP for the first time.

Soon after that meeting, Mr Swati called the parliamentary leaders’ session to examine the ban on wheat movement from Punjab, which he said could trigger a possible food crisis in the province, along with the long-running closure of CNG stations.

In a statement issued from his office, the speaker said the shutdown of CNG stations was badly affecting transport, industrial activity and the daily lives of residents. He said the suspension of wheat supply from Punjab could result in a flour shortage and higher prices in KP.

"Such action could lead to serious problems for people," he said.

Mr Swati said that, as custodian of the house, it was his constitutional duty to immediately take up matters of public importance and bring all relevant institutions onto one platform to develop an effective joint strategy.

He said the purpose of the session was to carry out a detailed review of the reasons behind the CNG shutdown and disruption in wheat supply, assess the actual situation, and protect public rights by improving coordination between the federation and the province so that a comprehensive and sustainable solution could be worked out.

Officials and stakeholders invited

The statement said Governor Kundi and Chief Minister Afridi had also been invited to attend. The participants would include Leader of the Opposition in the provincial assembly Dr Ibadullah, CNG Association President Abrar Saeed, representatives of the Flour Mills Association, the chief secretary, the ministers for law, information and finance, the food secretary, the energy and power secretary, the law secretary, the finance secretary, the auditor general and the president of the Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

During the earlier meeting, the governor said KP could procure wheat from Sindh if Punjab allowed access to the corridor. He added that the Sindh government was willing to provide wheat to KP.

According to the Governor’s House statement, representatives of traders and millers will also attend the meeting.