Wheat crisis drives record prices

Balochistan is reeling under a worsening wheat crisis as flour prices have surged to an unprecedented Rs2,300 per 20-kilogram bag, pushing basic food staples beyond the reach of ordinary households already crushed by record inflation.

The crisis has exposed glaring flaws in governance and food supply management, with experts warning of further shortages and unrest if immediate corrective measures are not taken.

At the heart of the problem lies the provincial food department's failure to procure wheat during the crucial March-April window, a period when prices are comparatively stable, and fresh stocks are readily available. Instead of building up reserves for the year ahead, the department relied on clearing nearly 800,000 bags of old grain it had in storage.

Officials defended the decision, claiming the clearance was aimed at preventing spoilage of older stocks. However, the move backfired spectacularly. The grain was sold at what critics describe as throwaway prices, inflicting losses exceeding Rs6 billion on the department. More significantly, it left the province without a strategic backup at a time when market volatility was escalating.

The outcome has been a steep and steady increase in flour prices over the past three weeks, with shopkeepers and consumers alike reporting panic buying, hoarding, and severe strain on household budgets. "In my 30 years of running a shop, I have never seen flour cross Rs2,000 per bag," said a Quetta-based trader. "Families are cutting meals because they simply cannot afford it."

As public frustration mounts, the controversy has deepened with the revelation of a massive wheat scandal unearthed by the Balochistan Anti-Corruption Department. Initial investigations suggest billions of rupees were siphoned off through mismanagement and corrupt practices in wheat handling and sales. Several officials have reportedly been detained for questioning, though authorities remain tight-lipped about the scale of the arrests and the identities of those involved.

Analysts argue that the scandal underscores a systemic problem of weak oversight, corruption, and political interference in the province's food supply chain. "This is not just about one season of bad management," remarked an economic analyst in Quetta. "It is about years of neglect, where accountability has been absent, and institutions have failed to protect the most basic right, access to affordable food."

The crisis in Balochistan is also reflective of Pakistan's broader challenges in ensuring food security amid high inflation, climate-driven disruptions in agriculture, and governance failures in vulnerable regions. Wheat, being the staple diet of the majority, has a direct bearing on social stability. Rising flour prices have historically triggered public protests, and observers warn that the current trajectory could lead to widespread unrest.