Amid skyrocketing inflation, the financial woes of citizens have further increased as flour prices have been hiked in various parts of the country, while wheat prices have been hit by up to Rs 200 per kg.
Karachi Wholesalers Grocers Association (KWGA) Chairman Abdul Rauf Ibrahim expressed the fear of flour crisis across the country and increase in prices up to Rs 200 per kg.
Program Awabira Sawira, KWGA Chairman Abdul Rauf Ibrahim revealed that there is a possibility of flour crisis in the country in the coming days. He said that the price of flour is likely to increase by Rs 200 per kg.
He said that flour is the most necessary thing of the people, but the high prices of flour will further increase the hardships of the common people.
Ibrahim blamed the Sindh government for the expected flour crisis because it had fixed the support price of wheat at Rs 4,000 per maund seven months before the new crop.
He criticized the Sindh government’s decision to fix the support price for wheat, saying that knowing that the country was facing a shortage of 8 million tonnes of wheat, it encouraged hoarders and profiteers.
Ibrahim said that the official price of wheat last year was Rs 55 per kg which suddenly doubled to Rs 100 per kg. In the retail market, common flour is already selling at Rs 120 per kg, fine flour at Rs 130 and milled flour at Rs 140 per kg.
He said that due to wheat storage, the price of flour will increase further. The KWGA chairperson said, “Flour prices are double in Sindh compared to Punjab. I have asked the government officials in a meeting whether they have increased inflation by themselves. If everything was going on normally, the government would Why decided to fix the support price of wheat seven months before the new crop?
He advised the government that instead of waiting for the month of October, wheat quota should be released to the flour mills immediately, which would bring the situation under control.
He further said that the government should also make a policy for pulses. “They should take practical steps and call the stakeholders. We are bound to import 80 per cent of pulses to meet the country’s needs but banks are not providing dollars to the importers. At present orders for thousands of tonnes of pulses are at the port. are stuck and other consignments are en route but banks are not providing dollars to importers.
Regarding the comparison of prices of cooking oil and ghee in Pakistan and global markets, Ibrahim said that the price of palm oil has reduced by 50% from $1,800 but its price has not decreased in Pakistan as the edible oil is still Rs 400 per kg. Kilo is being sold. liter and branded oil Rs 530 per litre.
He revealed that branded companies took advantage of the situation as they bought oil from the local market and sold the stock to the public at high prices.
