LOWER DIR/BAJAUR: Jamaat-i-Islami Khyber Pakhtunkhwa North chief Inayatullah Khan on Sunday warned of a worsening wheat flour crisis in the province, with prices reportedly rising almost daily. He urged the federal and provincial governments to take urgent measures to prevent the situation from spiraling out of control.
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Speaking after congratulating the newly-elected cabinet of the Timergara Press Club, Mr Khan alleged that trucks carrying flour were being stopped at Attock and bribes demanded. This, he said, had caused severe shortages in Lower Dir and other parts of KP, where a 40kg bag of flour was reportedly selling for as much as Rs6,000. He criticised the federal government for unfair treatment of KP and the provincial government for failing to meet its constitutional and moral responsibilities.
I swear by God, our agriculture is breathing its last.
Just as the leaders of the textile (cloth-making) industry said yesterday that we are facing a huge loss, in the same way our agriculture is also lying on its deathbed.
Our potato and kinnow (mandarin orange) traders are… pic.twitter.com/Z9Ecq3PVJN
— برهان الدین | Burhan uddin (@burhan_uddin_0) January 18, 2026
Mr Khan also spoke about law and order challenges, stating that military operations across the province were contributing to unrest and socioeconomic hardships. He emphasised that instead of military action, the police and civilian institutions’ capacity should be strengthened to tackle terrorism and insecurity.
At the residence of party leader Maulana Wahid Gul in Bajaur, he condemned a recent bombing targeting Gul’s home, calling it a “cowardly act” aimed at silencing voices for peace. The JI leader reiterated that issues in the merged districts should be resolved through dialogue rather than force, warning that ongoing military operations were causing destruction and instability in tribal areas.
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Mr Khan said the authorities must immediately arrest those responsible for the attack and stressed that his party remained committed to peaceful resolution of security and political challenges. He called on the governments to act promptly to stabilise flour supply, restore public confidence, and ensure basic necessities reach residents across the province.