Flour prices have increased sharply following a rise in wheat prices, with flour mills raising rates by up to Rs20 per kilogram.
The price of wheat in the open market has reached Rs14,500 per 100 kilograms, putting further pressure on flour prices.
In the wholesale market, regular flour is now selling at Rs155 per kilogram, maida at Rs167 and fine flour at Rs180. In the retail market, regular flour has reached Rs170 per kilogram, fine flour Rs200 and stone-ground flour Rs210.
According to sources, flour mills halted supplies for several days before increasing prices, resulting in reduced stocks at retail outlets.
Imported wheat is expected to arrive by November, while prices in the open market are likely to remain under pressure until supplies improve.
Meanwhile, the Sindh government has decided to release subsidised wheat to flour mills from October 15 at a rate of Rs12,500 per 100 kilograms.
The provincial government’s official wheat reserves currently stand at 346,414 metric tonnes. Following the expected arrival of wheat through the Pakistan Agricultural Storage and Services Corporation (PASSCO) and imported supplies, total stocks are projected to reach 836,414 metric tonnes.
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