To provide relief to citizens facing inflation, the Punjab government has announced a significant reduction in the prices of flour bags. Effective from Wednesday, the price of a 20kg bag has been lowered by Rs1000, while a 10-kilogram bag now costs Rs600 across the province.
Yasin noted that the cost of a 20-kilogram flour bag had previously dropped by Rs1000 in the past month, with market prices ranging from Rs1,700 to Rs1,800. Presently, the rate for a 10-kilogram bag stands at Rs900.
Furthermore, the provincial food minister has vowed to take decisive action against those implicated in the wheat import scandal, which has adversely affected farmers unable to receive the promised minimum support price of Rs3,900 per 40 kilograms. Market rates have fallen to Rs2,800 to Rs3,200, worsening the situation.
Different divisions have varying prices for 10kg flour bags: Rs800 in Lahore, Rs830 in Faisalabad, Rs800 in Sargodha, and Rs820 in Sahiwal. In Gujrat, the price is Rs850, while it stands at Rs860 in Dera Ghazi Khan and Rs870 in Bahawalpur. Gujranwala, Rawalpindi, and Multan divisions see the price at Rs900.
Reaffirming the government’s position, the food minister attributes the crisis to the caretaker government’s decision to import wheat. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has initiated an ongoing investigation through a fact-finding committee to hold those responsible accountable for the situation.
Punjab currently maintains a carry-forward stock of 2.3 million metric tons of wheat, ensuring sufficient supply until the next wheat crop harvesting in 2024-25.
