The increase in consumption of flour owing to advent of winter season and decreased supply of wheat to flour mills of Punjab during the current month as compared to the corresponding year have pushed the prices of flour up to Rs 330 per 20kg bag from official price of Rs 285 per 20 kg bag.
Presently Chakkis are selling flour at Rs 19 to 20 per kg, while flour mills selling at Rs 16 to 17 per kg. Probe into the ensuing flour crisis revealed the situation might get worse with each passing day until the first week of December, when imported wheat consignments are expected to be on their way to the flourmills.
Flour mills' sources told Business Recorder on Sunday that as compared to 22,000 ton per day supply to Punjab-based mills in the month of November last year, the average supply to the mills during current month was not more than 15,000 tons per day.
They pointed out that the current situation was further aggravated by the fact that unlike the last year when the difference between the private sector supplied wheat and that of the food department wheat was only Rs 20 per 40 kg, this time the difference was Rs 165 per 40 kg.
The inflated price coupled with the irregular supplies was creating a situation, whereas shortfalls in the supply causing shortages in the market besides creating price regime.
Nawab Liaquat Ali. Ex chairman Pakistan Flour Mills Association when asked said. "the 7,000 ton per day shortfall and the procurement of the same by mills at inflated rates was creating pressure to go above the official price of Rs 285 per 20 kg".
As things stand, report said that about 50 thousand tons of Russian wheat on its way to Karachi to be unloaded by the end of the month. The said consignment, the sources pointed out, might ease out the situation for the time being.