Traders ask govt to ensure flour supply

Subsidised commodity has disappeared amid high prices

LAHORE:

Pakistan Businesses Forum (PBF) President Mian Usman Zulfiqar has urged provincial governments to ensure the availability of flour in markets at competitive rates and a strict check and balance on a daily basis.

“Subsided flour has almost disappeared from markets amid worsening shortage of the commodity in Punjab and other provinces,” he claimed in a statement.

He pointed out that flour had become quite expensive for the common man because of the weekly increase in prices.

In Punjab, the price of 15kg flour, which was available at Rs1,200 some time ago, is now Rs1,600. “Government rates are much lower but the Punjab district administration has failed to ensure the supply of flour at official rates”.

Similarly, he said, markets of Karachi, Peshawar and Quetta were also facing flour shortage amid high prices, and the matter needed to be looked into seriously.

The PBF president requested the All Pakistan Flour Mills Association to ensure the availability of flour in Sindh and Balochistan, especially in the flood-hit areas, at government rates.

PBF Balochistan Chapter Vice Chairperson Sana Durrani pointed out that flour prices had skyrocketed in Quetta and other parts of Balochistan while the commodity was not available at most retail shops across the province.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 21^st, 2022.

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