Senior Vice President, Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) Iftikhar Ahmed Shaikh has urged Prime Minister, Chief Minister Sindh , federal and provincial ministers for food to take appropriate measures on war footing manner to contain Atta crisis in the city.
Talking to newsmen, he expressed concern over the increase of wheat and Atta prices in the city and demanded of the government to allow wheat movement from upcountry to Karachi to ease wheat prices.
He said that the government should itself purchase wheat from the growers at the rate of Rs 625 per 40 kg and assure smooth supply to flour mills. He alleged that a handful persons purchasing wheat at government control rates and storing it for more gain in future.
Chairman Karachi Wholesale Grocery Group Anees Majeed said that the price of 100-kg wheat has gone up to Rs 1900 in the market and stock are drying up fast. He said that there is no supply of wheat from up country to Karachi since last 72 hours. In open markets there is almost no wheat stock.
He said that the total requirement of wheat is around 6500 tones per day. He noted that the new wheat crop is coming up but its supply to Karachi has not been started yet. He alleged that the private sector is purchasing wheat from growers at Rs 700 per 40 kg. Government should take serious notice of the situation and purchase wheat at Rs 625 per 40 kg and supply it to the flour mills to make Atta prices stable.