Karachi Millers Cut Flour Prices by Rs3, But Relief Elusive

Millers in Karachi have cut prices for various flour varieties by Rs3 per kg. The new rates are as follows: flour No 2.5 at Rs141, maida at Rs149, and fine flour at Rs152 per kg.

The price drop is attributed to the arrival of cheap rice-mixed flour from interior Sindh in Karachi. However, the wheat rate in the open market has remained almost unchanged at Rs125-130 per kg, despite the government's plan to import 750,000 tonnes of grain in the coming months to avert any wheat and flour crises.

A tandoor operator termed the Rs3 drop as 'a peanut', given the substantial price hike by flour millers since the new crop hit the markets in March to May. He questioned why the millers reduced the rate despite rising transportation costs on account of a hike in diesel and LPG rates and an unchanged wheat rate in the open market.

In the retail markets, the price of flour No 2.5, maida, and fine flour is Rs160, Rs170, and Rs180 per kg, showing no drop in prices. Branded five-kg fine flour bags are available at Rs950-1,000.