Public suffers as wheat flour crisis intensifies in whole country.

ISLAMABAD -- The unprecedented hike in the price of wheat flour across the country and its acute shortage in several cities have brought severe hardship for the general public.

In Lahore, people are forced to buy flour at highest-ever price of up to Rs70 per kg, and the growers are holding the flour mill owners and the government responsible for the 'Aatta crisis'.

In Faisalabad, the flour prices have skyrocketed with an increase of up to Rs30 per kg as wheat supply to mills has been suspended.

Meanwhile, the nanbais of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) have announced that they will go on a strike from today (Monday) against the government, while their other associations in Punjab have given an ultimatum to the government asking it to provide them flour at the previous rate or they would raise the prices of naan and roti.

Meanwhile the supply of wheat flour from Punjab to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has restored and a crisis in making has been avoided, an official of flour dealers body told a private TV channel on Sunday. 'A convoy of 25 trucks, carrying consignment of wheat flour, has reached Peshawar,' the dealers association said. The price of a 20 KG bag has dropped to 1100 rupees from earlier price of 1200, dealers said.

Provincial Minister of Punjab for Food Samiullah Chaudhary has denied reports of wheat flour shortage in Punjab by stating that 'wheat flour at the official rate of Rs805 per 20kg is available'. 'We are ready for cooperation with Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa [...] Punjab should not be punished for someone else's incompetence.'

On the other hand, the provincial food department and the district administration of Lahore have jointly formed a plan to provide 'relief' to the public of the city amid the prevailing crisis, and have supplied 10,000 bags of wheat flour to ten model markets.

Contrarily, the Sindh government held the federal responsible for the wheat crisis and subsequent increase in flour prices. The flour grinding vendors (Atta Chakki owners) refused to sell flour below the price of Rs70 per kg keeping in view of massive increase in 40kg-wheat price to Rs2,150.

In Karachi, the 5kg and 10kg flour bags of Bake Parlor and Ashrafi brands further rose to Rs340-350 and Rs660-670 as compared to Rs310-330 and Rs630-640, respectively, two days back.

Some retailers demand Rs680 to Rs700 for branded 10kg fine flour brands, thus alarming consumers for further jump in prices. Chakki Flour and super fine flour (Maida) sell at Rs70 per kg.

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