Flour being sold at Rs70 per kg as crisis intensifies in Punjab, Sindh

LAHORE/KARACHI (92 News) – Shopkeepers are selling flour at Rs70 per kg after crisis intensified in Punjab and Sindh on Sunday. Under the prevailing situation, tanoor owners are pressing for increasing the price of flour and ‘naan’ at a high rate. The Flour Chakki Association secretary general said that they would sell flour at Rs64 if the government would give them quality wheat at Rs1,850 per maund. He threatened to close the ‘chakkis’ if the government forced them to sell flour at a low price. On the other hand, the district administration said that trucks have been parked at 20 points to ensure the sale of flour. The flour which was available at Rs1,800 per maund a fortnight ago is being sold at Rs 2,800 per maund. Citizens are of the view that other food items are available in the market, but the flour price has skyrocket. “Should we provide food to our children or give the rent of our houses?” they questioned. Meanwhile, the federal government has announced an operation against profiteers. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Information Shaukat Yousafzai said that there is no flour crisis in the province. “The strike of bikers is beyond understanding despite the provision of flour at subsidized rates,” he said. Citizens said that they were already unable to make both ends meet and the hike in the flour price had made their life more miserable. “On the one hand, the government is opening utility stores to provide a relief to the masses and it has become impossible for the poor to take two-time meal on the other hand,” they said. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Imran Khan has taken notice of the increase in the flour price. He has assigned the task of reducing the flour price to Jahangir Tareen and Khusru Bakhtiar. He directed the both figures to consult the chief ministers of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in this regard. The federal government has decided to provide 100,000 tons of wheat from the quota of the PASSCO.