SWABI: The price of wheat flour registered a sharp increase in Swabi district while local here on Monday did not rule out more hike in rate of the commodity.

A visit to the bazaars in the district headquarters and interaction with both shopkeepers and consumers revealed that five kilograms of flour was sold at Ras300.

Earlier the same quantity of flour was sold at Rs220 and the poverty-stricken people, who could not manage to buy a 20-kilogram bag, would buy a small chunk of flour.

“It was a big surprise for me when I paid Rs220 for five kilograms of flour and the shopkeeper asked me to pay Rs80 more,” said Asif Khan of Maneri Bala village.

The traders said that they paid a heavy price for getting flour so they could not sell the commodity at low price. It was quite imminent that the price of the flour would be further increased soon, they added.

Residents complain of hike in rates of essential items

“We know the market trends and the situation is highly perturbed. This is my prediction that there would be more increase in the price of flour,” said a trader. He said flour was sold at Rs60 per kilogram in the market and the price of a 20-kilogram was more than Rs1,180.

The wheat price has also jumped and a 50-kilogram bag of local grain is sold at Rs2,300. A few days ago, the same bag was sold in the local market at Rs1,900.

A wheat dealer told Dawn that they had brought wheat grain from Sindh and Punjab because the local wheat crop was badly damaged by the abundant rains.

The wheat brought from Sindh was sold at Rs2,700 per 50-kilogram while the price of the same quantity of Punjab grain was Rs2,650, he added.

There is a huge difference between the rates fixed by the government and the present market price of wheat and flour.

Similarly, the price of sugar also jumped from Rs70 per kilogram to Rs86 during the last few days. The price of rice has also been increased manifold.

Laiq Khan, district president of Anjuman-i-Dokarrdaran, said that a confused environment prevailed in the market and both businessman and consumers were disturbed because the prices of essential commodities did not remain stable.

PROTEST: The Government Employees Grand Alliance would hold a protest in tehsil municipal building Mardan on Tuesday (today).

Shaukat Ali Anjum, a leader of the alliance, said that the body was formed after government did not increase salaries of the employees.

He said that they had issued a charter of demands and would continue their struggle till achieving their objectives.

Published in Dawn, July 21st, 2020