KARACHI: Despite tall claims by the central and provincial governments, the rates of flour in Karachi became more expensive than other cities in the country.
According to details, on October 1, a 20-kg bag of flour in Karachi cost up to Rs 1,360, which rose to Rs 140 in one week. After which citizens in Karachi are forced to buy a 20 kg bag of flour for up to Rs 1,500.
Talking to M.M News, a wholesaler said that the owners of flour mills have jacked up the rate of flour no. 2.5 to Rs59 per kg. Asad, a shopkeeper at Landhi No. 6, said that the flour price has gone up by Rs 100 per 10 kg bag in a month.
The price of fine and superfine flour (maida) has been raised to Rs71 from Rs67 per kg. In the second week of September, the rates of flour no.2.5, fine and superfine flour were Rs57.50 and Rs61.50 per kg, respectively.
“Artificial wheat crisis has increased the flour prices,” the shopkeeper said, adding that the government should raid wheat stocks and deliver them to flour mills for the convenience of the people.
Earlier on October 13, on repeated requests from the federal government with a view to stabilising wheat flour price in the market, the Sindh Cabinet finally decided to release wheat from the government stocks from October 16.
According to details, the release of wheat from government stocks would help Rs 9.13 per kilogram reduction in the ex-mill wheat price in Sindh. The ex-mill price of wheat flour will drop to Rs 47.87 per kilogram from the existing 57 rupees per KG.
