Wheat shortage fuels rise in flour prices across Karachi 

KARACHI: Shortage of wheat continues to fuel the rise in flour prices across the city as wheat prices went up due to the suspension of wheat supply to flour mills.

Following the negligence of Pakistan People’s Party-led Sindh government, the province is once again facing a shortage of wheat. The Pakistan Flour Mills Association has issued a message to its members regarding the increase in flour prices due to disruption in the wheat supply from Sindh.

The Pakistan Flour Mills Association has been directed its members to sell 50-kilogram flour at Rs 2,700, 10 kilograms at Rs 545, 50 kilograms of Maida at Rs 2,825 and 50-kilogram fine flour at Rs 2,825.

In this regard, Advisor to Prime Minister on Maritime Affairs Mahmood Moulvi took to Twitter and said, “Flour price increased by Rs 10/kg in one month. What is Sindh Govt doing?”

Flour price increased by Rs 10/kg in one month. What is Sindh Govt doing? Should release wheat to Flour Mills in order to stabilise prices on the contrary creating hurdles for wheat trucks coming from interior Sindh. Hike in prices of flour making life difficult for comman man.

— Mahmood Moulvi (@MoulviMahmood) July 14, 2020

Mahmood Moulvi urged that the provincial government should release wheat to flour mills in order to stabilise prices. He also said that the hike in flour prices was increasing difficulties for the poor segment of the society.

Earlier on July 9, Mahmood Moulvi had warned the government on an impending wheat crisis in the country. During a discussion with prominent businessmen at his office, the adviser said that the nation faces a wheat crisis of one million metric tonnes, while the government has issued permits to the private sector to import 1.5 million tonnes.