HCSTSI for ensuring availability of wheat flour at affordable prices

HYDERABAD: President Nadeem Ahmed Siddiqui, Senior Vice President Muhammad Fahad Mian, and Vice President Irfan Arbiani of the Hyderabad Chamber of Small Traders & Small Industry (HCSTSI) have shown a strong reaction to growing concerns over wheat availability across Sindh and the country, as well as flour prices hike.

They have asked the federal and Sindh governments to take immediate, effective and practical measures to ensure the availability of affordable, quality food for the public.

They said that flour is a basic necessity for common citizens, not a luxury that should be allowed to go beyond their purchasing power. The governments are responsible for taking timely solid decisions before a crisis intensifies, rather than offering explanations after shortages emerge.

The office-bearers demanded that the federal government immediately permit the private sector to import wheat under a clear, transparent and non-discriminatory policy to cover domestic requirements, improve supply and help keep flour prices at reasonable levels. They also called upon the Sindh government and the Food Department to conduct an immediate and transparent inspection of wheat stocks held in government warehouses, segregate substandard and unfit wheat, and ensure that flour mills receive only good-quality wheat.

The office-bearers stated that the burden of uncertain wheat supplies and policy delays must not be passed on to the public in the form of expensive flour. Flour mills must not be forced to suspend or curtail production because of shortages of raw material, as this would disrupt flour supplies and adversely affect employment, related businesses and the local economy. The Hyderabad Chamber further called upon the federal and provincial governments to formulate a coordinated policy covering wheat demand, available stocks, import requirements and distribution arrangements until the arrival of the next crop. Timely planning is essential to safeguard the next wheat harvest and meet food requirements, particularly in view of the potential water shortages during the Rabi season.

The three office-bearers urged the federal government, the Sindh government and the relevant departments to announce a clear action plan within the next 72 hours covering the verification of wheat stocks, permission for private-sector imports, the supply of quality government wheat and measures to stabilize flour prices. They stressed that meetings, statements and announcements alone would not resolve the crisis; the public needs practical action and tangible results.

They appealed to the Prime Minister of Pakistan, the Chief Minister of Sindh, the Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research, and the Provincial Minister for Food to intervene immediately. They emphasized that bread is a basic necessity of life and that negligence or unnecessary delays in ensuring its availability are unacceptable. The Hyderabad Chamber stands ready to cooperate with the government, the flour milling industry and other relevant stakeholders to resolve the issue. However, the public must not be left to bear the burden of rising prices, nor should the industry be left facing continued uncertainty.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026