Punjab Flour Ban Pushes Prices Up in Mansehra

The prices of flour have risen in Mansehra due to the Punjab government's ban on transporting wheat and flour to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. According to Hussain Khan, a wholesale wheat flour supplier, the price of a 20kg bag of fine-quality flour has increased to Rs3,200 from Rs3,000, while super-quality flour now costs Rs3,000 compared to Rs2,800 earlier.

The ban has led to additional transportation costs for suppliers, who have to pay over Rs220 per 20kg bag as gratification. This has pushed up the prices in local markets, affecting consumers already burdened with high inflation.

Another wholesaler in the market said that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government's recent increase in wheat flour prices had further affected the market. The rise in electricity tariffs and natural gas prices has also put households under financial pressure, making it difficult for them to afford the additional cost of flour.

Resident Mohammad Waqar criticized the government's policy of reaching a compromise with the Punjab government over the ban, saying it had contributed to the increase in prices in local markets. He expressed concern about how people can meet their monthly household expenses and pay for their children's education amidst rising inflation.