The government came under scathing criticism from the opposition in the National Assembly on Thursday on "severe flour shortage and increase in its prices across the country".
Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians, Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) and Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) legislators questioned the government's 'inability' to overcome flour crisis and its soaring pieces.
They said that the common man, already crumbling under inflation, purchased the commodity between Rs 14-32 per kg in all the four provinces, which was reflective of the government's failure to rectify the situation.
Reacting to this, Food and Agriculture Minister Yar Mohammad Rind denied reports of flour shortage and increase in its prices.
He read out a latest report, compiled on the information from various cities about availability of the commodity at Rs 14 per kg.
Shagufta Jewani, Maulana Akbar Chitrali, Hafiz Hussain Ahmed and Syed Khurshid Shah disputed his statement.
The minister said that 100kg flour sack was available at Rs 1,000 in Karachi.
However, he said that for some days, certain elements created artificial shortage by holding back wheat, which pushed its prices up, but the situation was under control now.
Meanwhile, interesting situation developed when PPPP's Syed Khurshid Shah challenged the minister to arrange 0.1 million sacks of flour at the rate of Rs 1,000 per 100kg. Accepting the challenge, Rind said he was ready to provide the commodity as desired by the opposition.
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