Flour price posts steep, double-digit rise in province

Rs22 has been increased on per kilogramme wheat across Balochistan

QUETTA: Balochistan was facing wheat crisis amid continued shortage across the country increasing the price of flour from Rs43 to Rs65 per kilogramme in different parts of the province.

The price of 20 kilogramme flour bag was Rs1,150 and 50 kilogramme flour bag was Rs2,800. Wholesellers expressed concern on increasing prices of wheat while retailers were selling old stock on higher prices due to non-availability of flour from Punjab.

Wheat sellers have predicted intense situation across the province if the situation persists.

Besides, coping up the requirement of wheat in the province, tandoor owners have also considered increasing price of bread.

Provincial Minister for Food and Population Welfare Sardar Abdul Rehman Khetran commented on the situation while talking to a private news channel. He said smuggling of wheath from Balochistan to Afghanistan — a big reason of wheat shortage — has been banned. Moreover, the government has ordered a crackdown against flour mills and hoarders in order to bring down the prices.

Sharing measures to overcome crisis, the minister said, “Federal government has allocated 50,000 tonnes of wheat to be delivered to Balochistan by Pakistan Agricultural Storage and Supplies Corporation (PASSCO). The stock will be available within 10 days and the crisis will be resolved.”

Briefing on the wheat crops in the province, the minister said the government has decided not to use wheat from Naseerabad because the deteriorated crops were below quality.

“Most of the crops in the district were badly damaged by floods and rains during the season. However, the government has tried to keep the stock of wheat in warehouses following the procedure in case of shortage,” he said.

Illustrating on upcoming crops in the province, Khetran said new wheat crops will be ready in the upcoming two months and will fulfill requirement of Balochistan for two years.

The minister added that wheat crisis has engulfed across the country and the provincial government was grateful to the centre for providing a large quantity of wheat in order to overcome the situation.

Khetran said Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Kamal directed district administrations and chief secretary to take action against wholesellers involved in illegal stocking of wheat.

“Balochistan government has directed deputy commissioners to take strict action against flour mills owners, wholesellers and others taking advantage of the shortage by profiting higher prices of wheat,” he added.

The government has also decided to seal the mills and shops of such profiteers.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 20^th, 2020.