Crisis averted as flour mills’ quota restored

Pindi district admin fails to ensure non-stop supply of subsidised flour

RAWALPINDI:

The Rawalpindi district administration has restored the wheat quota of all 130 flour mills across the district.

However, the Rawalpindi district administration has failed to ensure an uninterrupted supply of subsidised flour.

With the restoration of the flour quota for the flour mills in the district, the looming shortage of flour has been averted.

At present, 30,000 bags are being supplied in the district against the required 50,000 bags (20 kilogrammes).

In the absence of subsidised flour, prices of flour have soared significantly in the open market.

The Rawalpindi deputy commissioner has convened a meeting on Wednesday to review food prices, especially the flour crisis.

Price control committees, traders, butchers, grocery merchants and other stakeholders will participate in the meeting.

Officials said that stalls will be set up in makeshift markets in different areas of the district to provide the subsidised flour, while cheap flour will also be provided in vehicles to the citizens.

The Grocery Merchant Association has also been authorised to sell subsidised flour. A bag of subsidised flour is being sold at Rs650.

Of the 130 flour mills in the district, 80 mills were on strike, while only 50 flour mills were functioning and a flour crisis has started to loom.

Rural areas of the district were facing a shortage of subsidised flour.

In the open market, the price of a sack of red flour has reached Rs11,500, while the price of a sack of fine flour has reached Rs12,000. A sack of fine flour (maida) is being sold at Rs12,500.

Naanbai Association President Shafiq Qureshi said that the district administration has completely failed to control flour prices.

He said that flour mills across the district have increased the price of flour by Rs170 per kg. He said that citizens have to furnish ID cards and undergo biometric thumbprint for a bag of subsidised flour.

Grocery Merchant Association President Saleem Parvez Butt demanded that women should be exempted from asking to provide an ID card copy or a mobile number to get subsidised flour. He said that asking for mobile phone numbers from women was most unbecoming.

Flour Dealers’ Association President Zahoor Bhatti said that the wheat and flour supply has improved with the arrival of the new district food controller, but the flour and wheat crisis should be solved permanently.

He said that 49,000 sacks of wheat are being given daily but they should be increased as per the requirement.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 16^th, 2023.