LAHORE, March 18: The Pakistan Flour Mills Association (PFMA) on Tuesday demanded an increase of Rs5 per 20-kg bag because of increase in petrol prices.

A PFMA press statement said there had been substantial increase in POL prices during the last two months. “This is in addition to abnormally high rates of electricity,” it said.

According to PFMA former chairman Bilal Sufi, the millers had to foot the bill of transportation of wheat and flour. It had put them under tremendous pressure. Transporters had increased the cost of transportation by Rs10 per bag during the last one week which meant Rs20 per bag — Rs10 for transportation of wheat and Rs10 for flour. “The extra burden has necessitated an increase in flour prices,” he added.

The PFMA has convened a meeting on March 23 to chalk out a strategy, said Mr Soofi.

The millers expressed the hope that the government would reduce oil prices in a few days, otherwise they would be left with no choice but to increase the price.