Two days back flour millers had reduced the 50-kg flour bag price to Rs1,515 from Rs1,530. — File Photo

KARACHI: The prices of flour varieties, which declined in 2010 owing to bumper wheat crop, have risen from January 2011 compared to last year. However retailers said that from Jan to Feb 22, the rates of various flour varieties had not gone up further.

Earlier in January 2011 flour millers had pushed up the price of 50 kg flour (no.2.5) bag and maida 50 kg bag by Rs50 and Rs40, respectively. Also some flour millers had raised the price of 10 kg bag to Rs335 from Rs325 at that time.

Currently, the rate of 100 kg wheat bag hovers at Rs2,625-2,650. The government is offering wheat bag at Rs2,550 to the flour mills.

In January 2010, the retail prices of 10 kg flour bag, fine atta, flour no.2.5, chakki atta and maida were Rs340, Rs35, Rs32, Rs35 and Rs40 per kg. In December 2010, the price of 10 kg flour bag, fine atta, flour no.2.5, chakki atta and maida plunged to Rs300, Rs33, Rs28, Rs33 and Rs35 per kg, respectively.

The rate of 10 kg flour bag, fine atta, flour no.2.5 and chakki atta (from January till February 22, 2011) has remained at Rs340, Rs35, Rs32 and Rs36-38 per kg, respectively, showing some rise as compared to December 2010 owing to increase in wheat price.

Former chairman Pakistan Flour Mills Association Syed Johar Ali Qandhari said that bumper crop does not mean sharp decline in flour prices as much depends on the wheat prices and other market factors.

He said the price of most sought-after kitchen item had remained stable in 2010 owing to surplus wheat stocks.

Amid reports of another good wheat crop this year, he said that prices of flour may drop or remain stable in 2011 as even the market and food department have surplus stocks of last year's crop.

On wheat export, he said that 100,000-125,000 tons of wheat had been exported during Jan-Feb 2011 mainly to Bangladesh, while 200,000-250,000 tons are expected to be shipped within the next 20 days.

Wheat exports are being made at the rate of $335 to $338 per ton (FoB) Karachi.

Karachi Atta Chakki Association general secretary Anis Shahid said that usually the rate of flour rises every year in February when crop comes to an end but currently chances of any major price hike are dim owing to ample wheat availability.

He said that chakki owners had been providing flour at Rs33 per kg to the retailers but consumers are paying Rs36 to Rs38 per kg in various areas owing to retailers' stubborn attitude of keeping the rate high without any reason.

The chakki flour retail price should not exceed Rs35 per kg and it is the government's responsibility to check the profiteering by the shopkeepers.

The rates of Nan, Taftan, Sheermal and Qulcha had been enhanced in March 2010 to Rs7 from Rs6, Rs20 from Rs18, Rs20 from Rs18 and Rs18 from Rs16 per piece, respectively.

A bread maker in Bohra Pir said that for the last 11 months prices of these items had not surged despite increase in 16 kg ghee tin to Rs2,630 from Rs1,700 followed by 25 kg bag of milk powder to Rs8,500-9,000 from Rs6,000, gas and power rates, shopping bag by Rs30-40 per kg, waste paper rate to Rs38 per kg from Rs22 per kg, sugar price and labour charges.