Karachi Flour Prices Soar Amid Sindh Government's Wheat Supply Crisis

The Sindh government in Pakistan is facing scrutiny over its management of wheat supplies after a bumper crop was harvested. PTI Sindh President Haleem Adil Sheikh expressed concern about rising flour prices, claiming that chakki flour was being sold for up to Rs180 per kilogramme in Karachi, despite the official price being Rs145. A 10kg bag was reportedly costing as much as Rs1,800.

Sheikh questioned why wheat and flour shortages had emerged just months after the arrival of the crop, given that Sindh had set a support price of Rs3,500 per 40kg and a procurement target of one million tonnes for 2025-26. According to Sheikh, wheat availability in Sindh was estimated at 4.84 million tonnes, with a projected shortfall of 1.69 million tonnes.

He also pointed out that around 610,000 tonnes of wheat remained unaccounted for in the supply chain and called for complete details of provincial wheat stocks to be made public. Sheikh urged the Sindh government to ensure flour availability at official rates, investigate concerns over hoarding and artificial shortages, and provide relief to consumers facing rising food costs.