Flour price surge sparks roti crisis in Peshawar
The price of wheat flour in Peshawar has skyrocketed, with a 20-kilogram bag now costing Rs3,300, triggering a crisis that has left residents struggling to afford basic food staples. The surge in prices has been attributed to a shortage of government-subsidised flour, pushing commercial rates to unprecedented levels. Coarse flour is selling for Rs3,300 per 20-kg bag, while fine flour costs Rs3,120. An 80-kg bag of coarse flour has reached Rs13,200, and 20 kg of chokar is priced at Rs1,480.
The crisis has led to significant profits for flour dealers, with reports of crores of rupees earned in just a few days. Allegations of an artificial shortage have surfaced, prompting law-enforcement agencies to monitor large dealers and warehouses. The impact on local bakeries has been severe, with the price of a 50-gram single roti increasing by Rs10 to Rs30. In several key markets, only double rotis are now available, selling for Rs40 each.
Residents have reported a continuous reduction in the weight of rotis being sold, adding to the public frustration. Despite the sharp rise in prices and the shrinking size of bread, the Peshawar administration has remained silent. Citizens have appealed to the government to take action against bakers and sellers who refuse to supply roti according to the official rate list and prescribed weight.
The Food Department claimed it distributed 417,168 bags of flour at official rates across the province last week. Peshawar Division received 101,955 bags, while other divisions also received significant allocations. The department stated that 3,000 metric tonnes of government wheat from the provincial strategic reserve is being released daily to flour mills, with citizens receiving 20-kg bags of official flour at Rs2,520 through selected dealers. Eight flour mills were fined for violating standard operating procedures, and teams are regularly monitoring the quality of wheat and flour.