‘Flour prices may come down to Rs95/kg’

The Sindh government has decided to open the gates of its granaries to flush the market with wheat so as to bring down the flour prices.

The wheat quota of Sindh's flourmills has been increased as the flour price in the open market is likely to drop to Rs95 per kilogramme. In the meanwhile, wheat flour is also available at Rs65 per kg at 1,100 sale points of Sindh Government across the province.

This was the crux of a press conference addressed by Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon, Food Minister Mukesh Kumar Chawla, along with representatives of Pakistan Flour Mills Association on Tuesday.

"Flour prices have gone up because there is a wheat crisis in the entire country, but Sindh is the only province where the government is ensuring availability of flour at Rs.65 per kg at designated sale points," Memon said.

"As many as 460 trucks have been allocated for daily replenishment of flour supplies in Karachi, while 600,000 10kg bags are being supplied daily across the province at discounted rates," he added. "The Sindh government is giving billions of rupees in subsidy on this flour."

Memon said that the PPP leadership has strictly directed Food Minister Chawla to bring the flour prices under control in the open market. "For this purpose, the flour mills quota has been increased. Inshallah, the flour price in the open market will come down to Rs.95 per kg from Rs.150 within a couple of days," he said.

He said that the Sindh Government has abundant wheat in its storage. The Chief Minister has ordered the Commissioners and Deputy Commissioners to take strict action against hoarders, he said while adding that wheat of hoarders would be confiscated by the government.

While speaking on his part, Food Minister Chawla said that he held a series of meetings with the representatives of Pakistan Flour Mills Association and asked them for suggestions to reduce the prices of flour in the open market. The Association suggested increasing the quota of wheat to the flour mills.

He hoped that with the cooperation of the association, the flour price in the open market will be brought down to Rs95 per kg in a couple of days. He said that the Punjab Government has also increased the flour mills' quota, where the price of flour has come down from Rs.160 per keg.

He also reiterated that sufficient wheat stock is available in Sindh. One ship carrying wheat has reached Karachi Monday night, while another one is arriving at Gwadar port, he added.

Chawla said that two days ago a tragic incident took place in Mirpurkhas where one person lost his life in a stampede at a subsidised flour sale point. He announced that the legal heirs of the deceased will be given Rs1 million in financial compensation by the Sindh Government.

On this occasion, Pakistan Flour Mills Association Senior Representative Chaudhry Muhammad Yusuf said that flour is still cheaper in Sindh as compared to other parts of the country. "After meetings with the food minister, we have started getting additional quota of wheat," he said, adding that they will ensure flour price comes down to Rs95 per kg in the open market in a couple of days.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 11^th, 2023.