Flour crisis deepens in Pakistan as 20kg bag reaches Rs 3,300

CNN Central News & Network-ITDC India Epress/ITDC News Bhopal: Flour crisis deepens in Pakistan as 20kg bag reaches Rs 3,300

Peshawar. Rising flour prices in Pakistan have added to the difficulties of ordinary people. In Peshawar, a 20-kilogram bag of coarse flour has reached up to 3,300 Pakistani rupees. The price of a 20-kilogram bag of fine flour is reported to be around Rs 3,120.

The rise in flour prices has also had a direct impact on the price of roti. According to reports, bakery and tandoor operators have increased the price of a 50-gram roti from Rs 20 to Rs 30. In some markets, customers are reportedly being offered two rotis for Rs 40 instead of one. Local residents have also complained that the weight of rotis has been reduced.

Amid the crisis, complaints have emerged that government-subsidised flour is not available in sufficient quantities in the open market. On the other hand, the Food Department of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa says subsidised flour is still being distributed at official rates. According to the department, more than 4.17 lakh bags were supplied last week through 1,611 active vendors.

The Food Department said a 20-kilogram bag of government flour is being made available through selected vendors at Rs 2,520. This is Rs 780 less than the open market price of Rs 3,300. The department has also reported action against eight flour mills for violating standards.

The rise in flour prices in Pakistan is not limited to Peshawar. According to official data, in the week ended October 1, the average price of a 20-kilogram bag of wheat flour across 17 urban centres in the country was Rs 2,697.45, which is 32.65 percent higher than a year earlier.

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