Flour becomes a hard find at utility stores

Citizens demand better subsidies on cooking oil, say ghee is not a daily-use item

KARACHI:

A majority of Karachi’s residents still belong to middle and low income groups that rely on government operated utility stores for access to affordable grocery. For this segment of the population, wheat is an essential food item that accounts for over 60 per cent of their daily diet. However, a new wheat flour crisis at utility stores has made the grain inaccessible to thousands of people, who have been queuing up outside the government-backed stores for hours in stifling heat without any luck.

According a spokesperson of the Utility Stores Corporation (USC), the management has identified the issue, and is currently working on increasing the number of utility stores in the port city. “As for the long queues, we have arranged for tents and cold water dispensers outside the stores, in collaboration with the district administration so that the people get some relief from the harsh weather,” he added, without referring much to the flour shortage.

The USC representative thoroughly believes that Karachi’s citizens have access to up to 40 kilogrammes of flour, five kilogrammes of sugar and five kilogrammes of ghee per an original CNIC presented at any utility store.

The rates at these stores are much lower than private markets. For instance, flour retails at normal stores for Rs800 to Rs1,000 for a 10 kilogramme bag, while utility stores are able to provide the same for Rs400 a bag.

In theory, this has been made possible through massive subsidies provided by the federal government on essentials like flour, ghee and sugar.

However, the citizens of Karachi say that all the discounts are just lip service, while the product have been long missing from the city’s utility markets. Owing to which, they have had no option but to buy exorbitantly priced food items from private stores, that although steep in terms of price, still remain more accessible to the public than utility stores.

Per Asif Abbasi, a resident of Lines Area, the city’s burgeoning population does not justify the number of utility stores in Karachi. “Which is why, the few utility stores we have are always teeming with buyers. I have been trying to get some subsidised flour, but the shipment runs out as soon as it arrives and people at the back of the line never get a chance,” lamented the citizen.

Similarly, Sadia Shahid, who is a housewife complained that the government has provided subsidy on ghee, and priced it at Rs300 per a kilogramme bag. “However, we don’t use ghee as we use cooking oil. Ghee is only used to lather parathas, but cooking oil is used in almost all the daily cooking. So what is the point of subsidising ghee?” she questioned, adding that the government should have rather offered better subsidies for cooking oil.

Muhammad Saleem who is a social activist and works closely with lower and middle income groups agreed with Shahid’s remarks. He said that cooking oil is the most essential food item, other than wheat flour, that inflation has put beyond the reach of most average citizens. “The government should introduce one pound and half litre bags of cooking oil price it at Rs300 per litre. That would be more beneficial for the people than subsidised ghee,” he told.

Speaking in the regard, Karachi Utility Stores Regional Manager Nawab Qadri said that there are 87 utility stores in Karachi, which are being made more accessible by adding shade and installing cold water dispensers. “The price of cooking oil at utility stores is Rs540 per litre, which is still less than the prices at private stores. As for the shortages of subsidised items, we acknowledge the issue and steps are being taken for timely supply of flour and other items to the market,” he told The Express Tribune.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 7^th, 2022.