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KARACHI, Dec 13: The shortage of wheat flour has compelled the consumers to turn a blind eye towards the quality of the flour available at the utility stores at subsidised rates. According to a large number of consumers, the roti being produced using the flour from the utility stores is different in taste and colour as compared to the one produced using the flour available at retail outlets.
However, for those already perturbed by the sky-rocketing prices of daily-use commodities, the issue of quality has taken a back seat as they seem to be more concerned about the huge price difference i.e Rs90-100 per bag.
Market reports suggest that the flour available at the utility stores contain wheat bran (choker) in larger quantities while the same item produced by mills is much refined.
The shortage of flour in the city has also forced many well-off people to visit the utility stores. According to them, it proved to be their last visit as they could not compromise on the quality of such an essential commodity.
Unfortunately, the majority of people belonging to the lower-middle class are left with no choice but to brave it out in long queues for hours to get substandard flour at cheaper rates.
It has also been observed that at a number of utility stores many people fail to purchase a single flour bag despite waiting for the entire day and turn up the next day to once again try their luck.
However, the zonal manager, Sindh, Utility Stores Corporation, Masood Alam Niazi, said that there was virtually no difference in the quality of flours available at the utility stores and the open market.
Mr Niazi said that no complaint had been received in this regard. “We regularly monitor the quality of the flour being produced at the designated mills of the Utility Stores Corporation”, he said.
On Thursday, the rates of 100kg wheat bag in the open market were being quoted between Rs1,675-1,700 following an improved supply from Punjab and the decision of the Sindh government to increase wheat supply from Karachi godowns to the flour millers.
A number of bread manufacturers, who are also flour miller, have announced an increase in the rates of bread from Re1 to Rs4 depending on the weight of the bread. The reasons cited for the price hike include increase in the rate of raw material (wheat), utility bills and the distribution cost. The proposed increase will be effective from Dec 14.
