KARACHI: The inflation-hit people may heave a sigh of relief as the city administration has notified the reduced prices of wheat flour, sugar, naan and chappati with immediate effect and until further orders.

The price of a tandoori naan of 120 grams was fixed at Rs17, while the price of chappati (100 grams) was fixed at Rs12.

According to separate notifications issued here on Thursday, Commissioner Hassan Naqvi, in exercise of powers vested under Section 7 of the Essential Commodities Price Control and Prevention of Profiteering and Hoarding Act 2005 (Amended in 2008 and 2023), notified the ex-mill price of wheat flour at Rs90 per kg, wholesale price at Rs93 per kg and retail price at Rs98 per kg.

The ex-mill price of fine flour was fixed at Rs117 per kg, wholesale price of fine flour at Rs120, retail price at Rs125 and the retail price of Chakki flour is fixed at Rs123 per kg.

120-gram naan and chappati now cost Rs17 and Rs12, respectively

In another notification, wholesale price of one kilogram of sugar was fixed at Rs137 while retail price was fixed at Rs140.

All wholesalers, retailers and the departmental stores are required to display price lists at conspicuous places, failing which strict action would be initiated against the violators.

It may be noted that the flour mill owners had already reduced the rates of various flour varieties to pass on the impact of huge arrival of cheap imported wheat in the country. However, despite a persistent drop in flour rates at the wholesale stage, retailers are not fully passing on the benefit of price cut to consumers.

Similarly, the naan and chappati sellers had not reduced the prices despite reduction in the prices of wheat flour.

Published in Dawn, May 10th, 2024