Serious flour crisis in Pakistan, 92% government wheat purchase failed, bread in danger due to rising prices.

Islamabad. Due to failure of administrative and agricultural system in Sindh province of Pakistan, a major wheat crisis has arisen. Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has expressed serious concern over the rising prices in the open market and also admitted the failure to stop hoarding and profiteering.

According to government data, till June 4, the food department has procured only 79,835.66 metric tonnes of wheat against the target of 10 lakh metric tonnes, which is less than 8% of the total target. With the support price of PKR 3,500 per 40 kg set by the government being much lower than the market rate, farmers preferred to sell wheat to private buyers at higher prices rather than sell wheat to government agencies.

This situation has had a direct impact on the general public. Wheat prices have increased by about 25% in the open market. Wheat price in Karachi has reached PKR 11,100 per 100 kg, while in Hyderabad this price has been recorded at PKR 10,900 per 100 kg.

Due to this, the retail price of flour has increased from PKR 135 to PKR 140 per kg, while the subsidy rate given by the government is PKR 107 per kg. Its biggest impact is on low income group families, for whom the cost of food is continuously increasing.

Seeing the seriousness of the situation, Chief Minister Shah called a high-level emergency meeting at the CM House. He clarified that hoarders and speculators will not be allowed to play with food security. He instructed the concerned departments to control the market and stop abnormal increase in prices and asked them to submit regular reports. “Wheat is not just a commodity, but a basic need of the people and the basis of social stability,” he said.

However, according to reports, despite administrative efforts, there is no major improvement in the situation at the ground level. Hoarding continues and due to the weaknesses of the government machinery, Sindh province appears to be moving towards a deep food crisis.