KARACHI, March 15: Sindh Food Minister Arif Ali Khan Jatoi, on Monday, assured that flour prices would be stabilized by the first week of April. "We have to face difficulty for the next seven to 10 days, when the wheat procurement from Sindh will start, thus, improving the over all stock position," the minister told a press conference.

However, he made it clear that the flour would be available in the market at Rs12.50 per kilogram as wheat support price had been enhanced by the federal government.

Arif Jatoi said if the Australian wheat had not been rejected, the ongoing crisis could have been averted. Some 20,000 ton wheat was available in the present stock, he added.

Referring to the meagre wheat stock position in Hyderabad, he said that 2,000 tons would be released to Hyderabad as soon as the new crop arrived. "We are expecting 10,000 tons from Pascco; 20,000 tons from Punjab and 8,000 tons under the World Food Programme within 15 days," he said.

Out of the Pascco stock, 5,000 tons would be released for Karachi, he said. The Pascco had dispatched the first tranche of 1,800 bags which was on its way to Karachi, he added.

The minister said that provincial government had, in October last year, informed the federal government about wheat situation. "If order for wheat had been placed well in time, we would have enough time to import wheat from any other country, after rejection of Australian wheat," he remarked.

He said that at present 62 floor mills were functioning in Karachi, eight are completely closed while nine others were under observation. Mostly the floor mills purchased wheat from open market or private sector, he said adding that in case of wheat shortage they used to approach the food department.

The minister said, "When we get the required wheat quota, the upper Sindh will get less share as its border runs with Punjab from where they can get wheat."

Regarding closure of floor mills due to wheat shortage in upper Sindh, Arif Jatoi said that mill owners should keep national interests above their personal interests. -APP