Millers give another flour price shock

While showing no mercy for the inflation-hit consumers, the millers have further jacked up per kg prices by Rs7 in flour no.2.5 and Rs10 in fine and super fine flour (maida). The new rate of flour no.2.5 has been fixed at Rs106 per kg while fine and super fine flour rates are now Rs114 per kg, a miller said, adding that the new rate of 10kg flour bag has been increased to Rs1,065 from Rs995. Karachi Wholesalers Grocers Group (KWGA) Rauf Ibrahim said the wheat rate in the open market has swelled to Rs9,200 per 100 kg bag from Rs8,500 two days back. He said the arrival of wheat in Karachi from interior Sindh has been confined to only 6,600 tonnes a day from 10,000-12,000 tonnes owing to flash floods that have destroyed road network as well as wheat stocks. He said the government should allow the private sector to import wheat to bridge the demand and supply gap as the Sindh government would release wheat to the millers by October or November.