Wheat price: Faisalabad experiences upsurge

Government should provide wheat at Rs1,000 per 40kg bag: Flourmills Association Vice Chairman

FAISALABAD: An increase of Rs60 in the price of every 40 kilogramme (kg) bag of wheat was witnessed in the open markets of Faisalabad on Sunday. The government has fixed the wheat price at Rs1,050 per 40kg bag, but the price has gone up to Rs1,110 in the markets. The increase has been attributed to a shortage of wheat. Meanwhile, flourmills’ owners have also increased the price of flour. A market survey revealed that a 20kg bag of flour, available previously for Rs565, is now being sold for between Rs610-625. Faisalabad Flourmills Association Vice Chairman Muhammad Saleem alleged that hoarders have stocked wheat in their godowns, creating an artificial shortage. He said that flourmills cannot sell flour at low prices after purchasing wheat at high rates. He said the government should provide wheat at Rs1,000 per 40kg bag, as it did during the previous year, and extend a special subsidy to flourmills in order to ease prices.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 28^th, 2012.