In Lahore, people forced to buy flour at Rs 70 per kg Pakistan floored by severe flour crisis

The unprecedented hike in the price of wheat flour across Pakistan and its acute shortage in several cities has brought severe hardship for the general public.

In Lahore, people are forced to buy flour at highest-ever price of up to Rs 70 per kilogram, and the growers are holding the flour mill owners and the government responsible for the “Aatta (flour) crisis”. In Faisalabad, the flour prices have skyrocketed with an increase of up to Rs 30 per kg as wheat supply to mills has been suspended. Meanwhile, the nanbais (bread sellers) of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have announced that they will go on a strike from 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 raise the

(bread).

Provincial Minister of Punjab for Food Sami Ullah Chaudhary denied reports of wheat flour shortage in Punjab by stating that “wheat flour at the official or they would prices of roti 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.

Taking notice of the “uncontrolled” surge in prices and prevent crisis, Prime Minister Imran Khan ordered a stern and immediate nationwide crackdown against hoarders and profiteers, and directed the concerned officials to effective steps for stabilising the prices.

“Profiteers won’t be forgiven,” the premier is reported to have said, while ordering arrests of persons involved in illegal hike of wheat flour prices.