MANSEHRA: The sale of wheat flour at higher price continues in Mansehra district despite the release of the subsidised wheat’s quota to mills by the government.

The residents told Dawn that a 20kg bag of super quality flour was sold at Rs800 two weeks ago but its current rate was Rs980, while the price of white quality flour bag had gone up from Rs950 per 20kg bag to Rs1,080.

Nanbai Mohammad Nadeem said higher flour price had led to reduction in roti weight.

He said the district administration had yet to ensure reduction in flour rate.

“The administration had fixed Rs10 price for 170 grammes roti when 80kg flour bag was sold at Rs4,000. Now, as the bag’s price has jumped to Rs5,200, we’ve reduced roti weight to 130 grammes,” he said.

The government recently began supply of subsidised wheat to flourmills in Mansehra and checked flour smuggling to Afghanistan to reduce prices.

“Wholesalers supply flour at high rate, so we have to sell it at the same rate,” trader Ajmal Khan said.

Malik Muzaffar of the flour mills association said flour prices would come down soon due to the government’s measures to check smuggling and supply subsidised wheat to mills.

He said shops and general stores registered with the food department sold 20kg flour bag at Rs800.

Meanwhile, the administration of Kohat district has begun the sale of wheat flour at controlled rate of Rs800 per 20kg bag on Hangu Road on Friday after taking notice of hoarding and black marketing.

The residents purchased as many bags as they could from the trucks parked there as there was no restriction on it.

AAC Tahir Ali told reporters that the deputy commissioner had taken a notice of flour sale at higher rate due to the artificial shortage on the market.

He said around 3,600 flour bags were sold on Friday.

The official said there was a ban on flour import from Punjab but there was no shortage of flour available from the local mills at subsidised rate.

He said production by local mills was enough to meet the local needs.

The AAC said the administration had fined hoarders and profiteers.

Published in Dawn, November 2nd, 2019