Despite imports, flour rates in Karachi continues to rise

Massive imports of wheat too did not work to stop the rising prices, as rates of flour in Karachi became more expensive than other cities in the country.

According to the data released by the Federal Bureau of Statistics, on October 1, a 20-kg bag of flour in Karachi cost up to Rs 1,360, which rose to Rs 140 in one week. After which citizens in Karachi are forced to buy a 20 kg bag of flour for up to Rs 1,500.

In Hyderabad, the second largest city in Sindh, a 20 kg bag of flour is being sold at Rs 1,360, in Sukkur at Rs 1,300 and in Larkana at Rs 1,280.

Flour bags cost Rs 860 in Lahore, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Sialkot and Faisalabad, Rs 900 in Islamabad and Rs 1350 in Peshawar.

According to the statistics agency, a 20 kg bag of flour is being sold at Rs 1,320 in Bannu and Rs 1,220 in Quetta.

It is pertinent to mention that the federal government in July allowed duty-free import of wheat to control the prices of wheat flour and avoid the shortage of the commodity in the local market. Private sector was given a quota of some 1.5 million metric tons of wheat import and accordingly, private sector is importing wheat in bulk quantity.

So far, they have finalized deals on the import of some 1.3 million metric tons of wheat, out of which some 0.48 million metric tons has reached Pakistan through eight shipments and wheat is being directly supplied to flour mills.