Flour goes beyond reach of common man in Multan

MULTAN: The flour price has gone at the highest level in the history of Multan as it is being sold at Rs 65 to Rs 70 per kg in the city. The people are facing a tough time to buy flour for their family at affordable rates. Talking to The News here on Friday, the people said that flour had become more expensive and flourmills were promoting black marketing and selling flour at high rates. They lamented that they were forced to buy flour at mills’ desired rates due to absence of system to check them.

Moreover, the price of Maida has been increased upto Rs 61 per kilogram due to unchecked rising inflation. The flour was being sold at Rs 33.50 per kilogram and Maida at Rs 36 per kilogram in January last, but the prices of both items have increased now. Muhammad Sagheer, a man visited the market to buy commodities, complained that he could hardly consume three kilogram flour daily due to small numbers of his family. The current flour price had overburdened him. “If I purchase flour at Rs 70 per kilogram, my monthly budget would reach to Rs 6,300, which was not affordable on regular basis”, he added.

The people demanded the government take stern action against profiteers, hoarders and those creating artificial dearness. The people asked the officers concerned to keep strict check on wholesalers rather than shopkeepers because it would help stabilise the flour price.

Meanwhile, National Labour Alliance chairman Ghazi Ahmed Hassan protested against raised price of flour and said that the present situation had paralysed the life of labour class. He said that the sale of items like wheat flour, sugar, ghee and roti should be ensured at the prices fixed by the government.

Meanwhile, talking to journalists, Punjab Minister for Energy Dr Akhtar Malik said that the government was taking measures to resolve miseries of people on priority basis. He said that the government was well aware about the issues of people and the government was taking action against those creating artificial inflation and increasing the miseries of the masses. The minister said that the Punjab government was improving service delivery in a best way under the leadership of Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar.