Flour prices jacked up to Rs70 per kg

There has been an increase of 55.6% in price of commodity since January

LAHORE:

The Atta Chakki owners have increased the price of flour to Rs70 per kilogramme (kg), an increase of 55.6% compared to the rate allocated by the government at the beginning of year.

In January, the Atta Chakki Owners Association had agreed to sell flour at Rs45 per kilogramme, a specified rate by the government.

In a meeting of the Atta Chakki Owners Association officials held on Friday, it was decided to justify the price of flour, following an exorbitant increase in price of wheat in the open market.

The new flour price of Rs70 per kg was deemed effective July 24 onwards.

Abdul Rehman, general secretary of the Atta Chakki Owners Association, said that the price of wheat in the open market had skyrocketed in a short period.

In a week, per maund price of flour had registered an increase of 9.52%. It went up from Rs2,100 to Rs2,300 per maund.

During the last one and a half month, the price of flour has witnessed a whopping increase of 35.3%. The price soared from Rs42.5 per kg to Rs57.5 per kg.

Moreover, a 84-kg sack of fine flour is now available in the market at an inflated price of Rs6,500 as compared to Rs4,500 in the recent past.

Naanbais hinted an increase in the prices of bread and naan if the prices of fine flour do not decrease in the upcoming week.

“If the price of fine flour does not decrease, we will go on a strike after Eidul Azha,” a naan vendor warned.

Punjab Muttahida Naan Roti Association President Aftab Aslam Gul told The Express Tribune that vendors are not keen on selling naan at a price of Rs15 after Eid.

“The price of a 84-kg sack of fine flour has gone up by Rs2,000. How can the authorities expect us to sell naan on old rates?” he asked.

The association’s president remarked that the inflated prices of fine flour would force the vendors to sell naan at a rate of Rs20. Aftab said he was wary of government’s failure in reducing the price of an essential staple, “Since Eidul Fitr, the price of 84kg sack of fine flour has climbed sharply. It rose by 44.4%.”

Published in The Express Tribune, July 25^th, 2020.