Flour prices shoot to Rs 60 per kg in Karachi

KARACHI: The Sindh government has failed to control the continuous surge in flour prices that has now reached Rs. 60 per kg from Rs. 42 within the last three months, prompting the Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs, Ali Haider Zaidi to warn of an imminent flour crisis in the city.

The Sindh government had supplied three lakh sacks of wheat to the flour mills owners across Karachi to control the price hike. The Sindh government had directed all the divisional commissioners in November to launch a campaign against hoarders and profiteers to stem the skyrocketing prices of flour. But the drive didn’t turn out to be fruitful. The flour which was selling at Rs 42 per kg three months ago is now being sold in the range of Rs 60 per kg. The shopkeepers says the rates were increased since the government did not provide wheat at the government controlled rates.

Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs, Ali Haider Zaidi in one of his tweets strongly criticised the PPP-led Sindh government for the price hike of flour in Karachi. “The way Sindh Govt has mismanaged the flour issue, I expect flour crises in Karachi starting next week. Wrong policies, corrupt practices& no control over flour mills.