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Wheat flour price goes up in Urban Sindh
Hyderabad -Despite the reduction in wheat issue prices by
Sindh government, the prices of wheat flour in urban Sindh
continue to maintain high rate, it has learnt.
The Sindh government has recently reduced wheat issue prices
by Rs 50 over 100 kilogram bag. However, the wheat flour
prices quoted in retail market are Rs10 to Rs 11 per kg and Rs
840 to Rs860 per 79kg of wheat flour bag.
It may be mentioned here that the millers and the small
grinding units (chakki) have not passed on any benefit of the
reduction in prices of wheat to the common consumer as their
profit syndrome continues unabated.
The district price committee, which is responsible for
establishing the staple food prices in the open market, is
reported to have been dissolved under devolution of power.
The food department which had enough power under food control
act has failed to take cognisance of the situation.
When contacted the director food said that following the slide
in government wheat prices, 3200 tonnes wheat has been issued
and now there is no restriction upon mill owners or chakki
owners as they were allowed to lift wheat according to their
requirements. At present the food department has a stock of
over 110000 tonnes of
wheat.
It may further be mentioned here that Sindh government has
reduced the issue price of wheat from Rs850 to Rs800 per 100kg
without bardana (sack) whereas the price of Punjab wheat is Rs
825 per 100 kg with bardana.
Meanwhile, the consumers complained that the quality of wheat
flour supplied by flour mills and small grinding units is
inferior as compared to wheat flour of Punjab available in
Sindh. The reason given by the millers was that the wheat
supplied by the Sindh food department was of old crop of
2000-2001 which had remained under heavy pest pressure and at
places it was described as unfit for human consumption.
February 16, 2002
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Pakissan.com;
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