Flour prices go up across Balochistan

The price of wheat flour has been on the rise across Balochistan as the government has failed to ensure availability of food staple in sufficient quantity to overcome the shortage.

The flour crisis has further worsened in Quetta, Loralai and other parts of Balochistan as the supply has been interrupted over the past few weeks.

The provincial government appears to be helpless in the face of the crisis as per kilogram flour is being sold at over Rs160 in the local market.

According to dealers, a 20 kilo bag of flour in Quetta has touched the Rs3,100 mark and people are also worried due to the situation because everyone was expecting a decrease after the start of wheat harvest across the country.

The flour dealers in Balochistan have announced a strike against the ban on inter-provincial supply of flour from Punjab. According to flour dealers, there was a ban on bringing flour from Punjab and trucks loaded with flour had been stopped at check posts on the Punjab border with Balochistan.

They sought assistance from the government to resolve the issue on an emergency basis and make sure the availability of flour at affordable rates for the people of Balochistan.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 8^th, 2023.