LAHORE  - On the back of free hand by all the provincial government departments, flour millers and wholesale dealers continued their profiteering and once again increased prices of flour, as rate of fine flour of 84kg bag has jumped to Rs4,000 from Rs3950 while cost of fine meda (84kg bag) has reached Rs4100 from its earlier rate of Rs4,050 at retail level.
Getting the benefit of lack of provincial government writ, the retailers are also black marketing the flour and aren’t following any rate list, selling fine atta at Rs50 per kg versus earlier rate of Rs48 per kg.
Shopkeepers held the flour mill owners responsible for flour price hike, saying that the owners charged extra under the pretext of carriage charges. Moreover, they said that the mills owners had increased the prices as they were receiving wheat from private dealers.
Masses were unaware about the price hike’s reasons. They said basic necessities’ provision was the government’s responsibility, but the provincial officials were giving a free hand to mill owners without any regard for the public’s miseries.
Market sources said that rampant price hike in petroleum prices coupled with upward revision in electricity and gas prices continued to have a spiraling effect on the prices of most of the commodities since the PML-N government has taken charge, making the lives of consumers miserable.
Prices of majority of the commodities have surged and there appears to be no indication of any relief for the consumers even in coming months, squeezing further the purchasing power of underprivileged segment of the population. Prices of most of kitchen items during the month of November sharply went up. The items which recorded increase in their average prices included basen, all kinds of flour, black gram, flour, dry milk, potato, onions, tomatoes, different brands of cooking oil and ghee, onion, eggs, some pulses and fruits.
It is to be noted that the Utility Stores Corporation of Pakistan has also announced to raise flour price of 20kg bag by Rs10 to Rs785 from earlier rate of Rs775, as the millers stopped supply to the whole chain of USC, citing high cost of wheat in open market along with a rise in the cost of utilities. Market sources said that the rate of flour in open market has also been increased and is being sold in the range of Rs785-795 per 20kg bag while the same commodity has recorded the high of Rs875 per 20kg bag in KPK, mainly due to high price of wheat.
Meanwhile, turning down demand made by a section of flour millers for increasing price of atta in the province, the Punjab Government has fixed price of a 20-kg bag of atta at Rs785. Provincial Minister for Food Bilal Yaseen has said that no increase has been made in the prices of flour and a 20kg atta bag will be sold at the said price in the market.
He disclosed this in a meeting with a delegation of Flour Mills Association here on Thursday. The delegation was led by its President Aasim Raza.
The Minister directed the price control magistrates and district administration to check atta chakkis and strict action be taken against the owners selling atta on higher rates. He also directed the food inspectors to check the samples of flour at atta chakkis. Bilal Yaseen said that every possible step is being taken to provide essential items to the people at fixed rates. He said that no shopkeeper will be allowed to sell eatables at the higher rates. The Minister said that on the instructions of Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif besides Sastay Bazaars, Model Bazaars will be set up thrice in a weak to ensure supply of essential items.
Aasim Raza assured the Minister that no increase will be made in the prices of flour and it will be sold on previous rates.