KARACHI: Flour mills have increased flour prices by Rs20 per kilogram in Karachi, pushing retail rates of regular, fine and chakki flour higher, ARY News reported.
The increase comes as wheat prices in the open market have reached Rs14,500 per 100 kilograms.
In the wholesale market, regular flour is now available 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 chakki flour Rs210 per kilogram.
Sources said flour mills had halted supplies for several days before increasing prices, resulting in a shortage of stock at shops.
Imported wheat is expected to arrive by November, while wheat prices in the open market remain under pressure.
Earlier, CM Sindh directed the provincial Food Department to begin releasing government-held wheat to flour mills from 1 October, as the government seeks to increase market supplies and bring down flour prices.
The decision was taken during a meeting at the CM House in Karachi, where the chief minister reviewed the province’s wheat stocks, seized supplies, procurement plans and import arrangements.
Officials told the meeting that 226,918 metric tonnes (MT) of wheat had been seized and reconciled across Sindh.
Of that amount, 57,122 MT was available at flour mills and ready to be lifted, while 169,796 MT had been seized from traders and hoarders holding unauthorized stocks.
Some 25,365 MT remains under litigation, leaving 144,431 MT available for lifting. So far, 59,223 MT has been transported to government procurement and storage facilities, while a further 85,208 MT is awaiting transportation.
The Food Department has disbursed Rs.2.855 billion against the wheat that has already been lifted.
Murad Shah instructed deputy commissioners and food authorities to speed up the transportation of the remaining wheat, particularly in districts where progress has been slow.
He said all legally available wheat should be brought into government custody as quickly as possible so it could be used to increase market supplies and help stabilize prices.
The chief minister ordered the Food Department to complete arrangements for releasing wheat to flour mills from 1 October.
