More increase in flour price expected due to black market activities

RAWALPINDI: The less fortunate communities in Rawalpindi and Islamabad are grappling with the challenge of obtaining affordable flour from local markets, aggravated by the prevalence of black market activities.

The Caretaker Punjab government’s announcement of a government rate at Rs4,700 per 40-kilogramme of wheat has become a point of contention.

Exploiting the situation, flour mill owners and retail shopkeepers have increased flour prices by Rs100 to Rs150 per 15-kilogramme bag.

As a result, a 15-kilogramme bag of flour is now being retailed at Rs2,200 to Rs2,250, surpassing the market rate of Rs2,100 in the twin cities.

Criticism has mounted against the Caretaker Punjab government, especially for purchasing wheat from farmers at Rs3,900 for a 40-kilogramme bag and suspending the government quota to flourmills for an extended period of six to eight months.

The announced rate of Rs4,700 per 40-kilogramme by the government is strongly contested by flourmill owners.

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The Pakistan Flour Mills Association (PFMA) has adamantly protested, refusing government wheat and issuing a stark warning of a nationwide flourmill strike unless the rate is revised to Rs3,900.

According to The News, Ghulam Abbas Mehar, Deputy Director (Food), clarified that despite pleas from flourmill owners to adhere to the agreed rate of Rs3,900, the government has introduced a new rate of Rs4,700.

This has prompted flourmill owners to reject government wheat, with a looming threat of a strike if the decision remains unchanged.

Mehar cautioned that the flour crisis may intensify, leading to further escalations in prices in the upcoming days.