KARACHI: Retailers have pushed up prices of various wheat flour varieties but flour millers deny increasing any rates.

Shopkeepers are now charging Rs230 for five kg flour bag, as against Rs220, while the 10kg bag now costs Rs460-470 versus Rs430-440, saying millers are responsible for the price jump.

Pakistan Flour Mills Association (PFMA) Sindh Zone chairman Mohammad Jawed Yousuf, while refuting the claim of retailers, told Dawn that “we have not [raised] prices for the last two to three months, but I cannot comment on the price rise made by the retailers.”

The price of flour No. 2.5 has been unchanged at Rs1,900 per 50kg bag, followed by Rs2,000-2,025 of fine and maida rates, he added.

“Some millers are also selling flour at discount rate,” Jawed claimed, adding the rate of 100kg wheat bag in open market had also been pegged at old price of Rs3,460-3,465 for the last two months.

Retailers said the millers had supplied flour varieties at increased rates in the last one week without giving any reason.

However, the provincial or city administration is least bothered over price issues, leaving consumers at the mercy of market forces.

Published in Dawn, January 26th, 2019