KARACHI: With Ramazan just few days away, flour millers have hiked flour prices for the second time in anticipation of the wheat shortage due to heavy rains in Punjab.

The price of flour no.2.5 has been increased to Rs1,750 per 50kg bag against Rs1,700. Meanwhile, the 50kg bag was selling for Rs1,675 in the last week of April.

Prices of fine and super fine flour have also been raised to Rs 1,925 per 50 kg bag from Rs 1,875 while it was available at Rs 1,825 in the last week of April.

Wheat prices have been under pressure following reports of slight wheat crop damage in Punjab coupled with quality damage owing to rains. Flour millers said that wheat in open market now costs Rs3,275 per 100 kg whereas last week, the price rose by Rs100 to Rs3,150 per 100 kg bag.

Millers said that wheat from Sindh —which was harvested in March — has found its way in to Punjab while a number of commodity traders have also begun lifting the crop in huge quantities from the open market.

In a meeting held to discuss the crop situation in the province, flour millers from Sindh said the wheat prices did not pick up during last season; however, the situation has changed this time around as rains in wheat producing areas of Punjab severely affected the quantity and quality of the crop.

Published in Dawn, May 3rd, 2019