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In a major relief to citizens grappling with inflation, the Punjab government has announced a reduction in the prices of flour bags. Effective Wednesday, the price of a 20kg bag has been slashed by Rs1000, while a 10-kilogram bag sees a reduction of Rs500, now priced at Rs600 across the province.
Yasin highlighted that the cost of a 20-kilogram flour bag had previously decreased by Rs1,000 in the past month, with market prices ranging between Rs1,700 to Rs1,800. Meanwhile, the current rate for a 10-kilogram bag stands at Rs900.
Additionally, the provincial food minister has pledged to take decisive action against those involved in the wheat import scandal, which has adversely affected farmers unable to secure the promised minimum support price of Rs3,900 per 40 kilograms. Market rates have plummeted to Rs2,800 to Rs3,200, exacerbating the crisis.
Across different divisions, varying prices for 10kg flour bags are observed: Rs800 in Lahore, Rs830 in Faisalabad, Rs800 in Sargodha, and Rs820 in Sahiwal. In Gujrat, the price is Rs850, while it stands at Rs860 in Dera Ghazi Khan and Rs870 in Bahawalpur. Gujranwala, Rawalpindi, and Multan divisions see the price at Rs900.
Reiterating the government’s stance, the food minister attributes the crisis to the caretaker government’s decision to import wheat. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has initiated an ongoing probe through a fact-finding committee, aiming to hold accountable those responsible for the debacle.
Punjab currently maintains a carry-forward stock of 2.3 million metric tons of wheat, ensuring sufficient supply until the next wheat crop harvesting in 2024-25.