Wheat crisis

The wheat crisis keeps growing. After a spike in prices in Karachi, price points have been rising nationwide amid claims that an artificial shortage is to blame. The PTI-led federal government has been accusing the Sindh government of failing to purchase wheat at the right price and time, leading to supply shortages to the flour mills. The Sindh government, led by the PPP, accused the Centre of playing a ‘dirty blame game’. The PPP has been joined by the PML-N in accusing the Centre of allowing wheat exports despite low wheat reserves. Opposition leader Shehbaz Sharif demanded an inquiry to determine who authorised exports despite a ban ostensibly being in place since last summer. There is evidence to support both points of view.

PTI leaders have noted Sindh’s failure to pick up the wheat released for the province from the central reserve. Only a quarter of the total was picked up, according to the PTI. The ruling party is accusing a ‘mafia’ of hoarding essential commodities to make an unscrupulous quick buck. At the same time, Special Assistant to the PM on Information Firdous Ashiq Awan was less than convincing when she deflected questions related to when the government would bring prices under control. “See who is responsible for the price hike. Is it a government which has only been in power for 15 months?” she asked. Not necessarily, but failure to address the price hike is indeed the government’s failure. She inadvertently admitted as much, saying that since coming to power, the government has “tried our best to prevent the economy from drowning.” For poor citizens, the government’s best has not nearly been enough.

On the other hand, while PPP leaders rightly noted that the PTI is calling out Sindh while ignoring rising flour prices in the provinces it controls, the export accusation seems a little overplayed. While exporting 40,000 tonnes of wheat was probably not a great idea, it is only a drop in the ocean relative to the total demand. What all parties need to do is start by looking at the financial dealings of their own respective flour barons.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 21^st, 2020.

Like Opinion & Editorial on Facebook, follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.