KARACHI: Concerns are mounting in Karachi over a potential surge in flour prices as delays in the supply of government-allotted wheat continue to disrupt production at local flour mills.
According to the Flour Mills Association, the Sindh government’s slow delivery of wheat to mills has created a supply bottleneck, pushing production costs higher and limiting the availability of flour in the city’s wholesale and retail markets. Mill owners say the situation has made it impossible to sell flour at government-fixed rates.
The association’s chairman said that some of the government-supplied wheat lacks sufficient nutritional quality and must be blended with newly purchased wheat to meet market standards. He added that fresh wheat currently costs around Rs.110 per kilogram, while older government wheat is priced near Rs.80 per kilogram, significantly raising overall input costs.
Millers have approached traffic authorities and the Karachi commissioner to seek faster transportation of wheat supplies, warning that continued delays could worsen the situation. Flour prices have already risen sharply compared with four months ago.
Wholesale grocers said a revised flour price list is expected within days. If current trends persist, fine flour prices in Karachi could reach nearly Rs.145 per kilogram, further straining household budgets and intensifying inflationary pressure on consumers.
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