Govt struggles to rein in sugar, wheat prices

Raids against hoarders, profiteers prove futile

LAHORE:

Despite increasing the wheat quota and frequent raids of price control magistrates, the government has failed to ensure smooth supply of wheat flour and rein in prices sugar and other essential commodities in markets across the provincial capital.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, on Wednesday, various citizens complained about non-availability of wheat flour at the notified rate of Rs860 per 20kg bag. A citizen, Zafar Khan, pointed out that except model and Sahulat bazaars there is hardly any 20-kg wheat flour sack was available at shops in Township, Green Town and adjoining areas. Shopkeepers are selling premium grade whole wheat flour sacks of five and 10-kg at higher rates.

Though the government has fixed refined sugar price at Rs85 a kilogramme, another citizen, Kamran Bhatti, highlighted it is being traded above Rs90 a kilogram. Sugar, wheat flour, pulses, seasonal fruit and vegetable are necessities but the government has failed to control their prices.

On the other hand, a shopkeeper, Muhammad Adnan said several traders from his area were ready to make advance payments to mills for wheat flour stocks but they have been refused.

“Right now, not even a single sack of any known wheat flour brand is available in the market. A few mills are supply sub-standard flour sacks under unknown brand names in limited quantity as main brands have stopped supply in markets on the pretext of exorbitantly higher wheat rates in grain markets,” he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 29^th, 2020.