The country is witnessing a sudden and significant increase in flour prices, which has posed a new challenge not only for the common consumers but also for policymakers. The availability of flour at government rates in the open market has almost ended, while prices are continuously going up.
According to the recent market situation, a 10 kg bag of flour has reached Rs1050 while a 20 kg bag has reached Rs2100. This increase has come at a time when the government rates were already fixed at a relatively low level, but they are not being implemented.
According to sources, the disruption in the government supply of wheat has affected the entire supply chain, which has increased pressure in the market, and prices have started getting out of control. Circles associated with flour mills say that production is also being affected due to the shortage of raw materials.
Economists are calling this situation a “classic supply shock”, where demand remains in place but the shortage in supply has increased prices rapidly. According to them, if the supply of wheat is not restored immediately, further increase in the coming days is not out of the question.
On the other hand, public concern is growing. Citizens say that access to daily necessities had already become difficult due to rising inflation; now even basic necessities like flour have become expensive, severely affecting the household budget.
Experts suggest that the government should immediately intervene in the market to restore supply and ensure implementation of prices; otherwise, the crisis may intensify further.
