Karachi Flour Prices Soar Amid Wheat Shortage

Karachi's flour prices have jumped again due to a wheat shortage and rising wheat costs, adding to inflationary pressure on consumers.

According to industry estimates, Karachi requires around 100,000 bags of wheat every day to meet the city's demand. However, flour millers are struggling to purchase expensive wheat at government-set prices, leading to increased costs for fine, No. 2.5, and chakki flour.

The price of No. 2.5 flour has risen by Rs15 per kilogram to Rs145 at the mill level, while retailers are selling it for around Rs160 per kilogram. Fine flour prices have also increased, with a Rs13 per kilogram rise to Rs155 at the mill level and retail prices reaching around Rs175 per kilogram.

Flour millers have called on the government to import 2 million metric tons of wheat immediately to stabilize supplies and control prices. Flour Mills Association Chairman Junaid Aziz warned that any further increase in wheat prices would make another rise in flour prices unavoidable due to a domestic supply shortfall of approximately 4 million metric tons annually.