LAHORE: Chief Minister Punjab Parvez Elahi has announced to approach the Supreme Court about alleged discrimination from federal government against Punjab by not supplying it wheat that was given to other provinces.
Speaking to the media on Friday, he claimed that despite the federal government’s approval being requested, neither the Punjab government nor the private sector were permitted to import wheat.
He declared, “We will take this issue to the Supreme Court,” claiming that the federal government had delivered wheat to other provinces but had refused it to Punjab.
The chief minister chided the prime minister for “misquoting” him and creating an impression as if he (Parvez) had asked the private sector should be allowed to import wheat. “Shehbaz Sharif you first read my statement and then respond,” he said and advised him to think before speaking. He also accused the premier of frequently telling lies.
He reaffirmed his demand that Punjab be let to import wheat, alleging that “the federal government is impeding the delivery of wheat and flour to the common man [in Punjab] and it did not support the flood victims either.”
In a letter to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Punjab’s chief minister pleaded with him to intervene and support the province’s request for 1.0 million metric tons (MMT) of wheat, warning that “the province’s 2.85MMT wheat inventories may deplete by the end of February next.”
