Millers' strike triggers fears of wheat flour shortage

Fears of wheat flour shortage have become rampant as the strike by flour mills entered its second day on Friday as they called for withdrawal of the newly imposed withholding tax on flour products in the budget 2024-25.

This protest has led to the closure of flour mills across Sindh, including Karachi, halting wheat grinding and disrupting flour supplies.

Daily wage labourers employed in these mills have been left without work. Chakkis in various cities of Sindh, including Hyderabad and Sukkur, also joined the strike in a show of solidarity with millers, further disrupting local flour production.

The prolonged strike by flour mills has sparked fears of a flour crisis in Karachi and throughout Sindh.

Rauf Ibrahim, Chairman of the Wholesale Grocers Association, said that there is currently only a two-day stock of flour available in the wholesale market.

He noted that common flour is priced at Rs92/ kg, while fine flour is selling at Rs97/kg in wholesale markets. However, retail prices have surged by Rs5/kg due to profiteering, with chakki flour prices escalating from Rs115 to Rs120/kg.