LAHORE, June 18: The federal government policy of cascading wheat pricing is not being followed by three provinces.

The Sindh government has announced disposal of its wheat stocks of 950,000 tons by inviting tenders instead of increased prices under the cascading pricing policy. The Balochistan government is selling wheat at the rate of Rs797 per 100 kg to the flour mills in the province. The NWFP government is quiet on the policy as 90 per cent of the flour mills in the province are closed at present.

Only the Punjab government is following the cascading wheat pricing policy proposing an increase of Rs10 per 40 kg in wheat prices after every two months. Wheat is being released to flour mills at the rate of Rs320 per 40 kg at present and a 20kg atta bag is available for Rs182 in retail market. The price of the 20 kg wheat bag will increase by Rs25 by the end of the year in case the provincial government continues to follow the cascading wheat pricing policy. —Reporter