SWABI, Jan 21: The price of 20kg wheat flour bag has gone up by Rs20 in the district to the misery of local residents already reeling from high inflation.

Traders blame the price increase on flour mill owners and wholesalers and insist they’ve only passed on it to the people.

“When we were getting flour at low price, we charged low price for it but when we receive it at higher price, then we told people in plain words that they would have to pay more,” said Anjuman-i- Dokandaran district general secretary Laiq Khan.He said the government and consumers should realise that the fault lied with higher authorities and not entrepreneurs.

During a visit to different markets of the district, including those of district headquarters, Dawn found out that flour was available in abundance and that it price had increased over the last two to three weeks with the administration acting indifferently to the situation.

Traders and consumers said two week ago, 20kg bag of low quality flour was selling at Rs620, that of relatively better quality flour at Rs640 and that of fine flour at Rs670, but the prices had registered an increase.

“Now, the prices of the flour of all three kinds have increased. A 20kg bag of low quality flour is available at Rs720, that of relatively better quality flour at Rs750 and that of fine flour at Rs770. These prices are much more in far-flung areas, especially in Gadoon belt,” said small trader Rohail Amin.

He said the price of 85kg flour bag had increased from Rs3,200 to Rs3,450, while the 100kg maida bag was selling in the local market at Rs3,700 instead of the earlier price of Rs3,300.

Meanwhile, local bakery owners have announced to increase prices of their goods in the wake of increase in flour price.

The people said they had no option but to pay more for flour and goods made of it.

“I have six children and all of them are students. I am the only breadwinner in my family. My children know nothing about the higher prices of flour and other commodities and think their papa would manage things to give everything they need,” said Imtiaz Khan, a schoolteacher.

Mohammad Sagheer, a driver in a private organisation said he didn’t know how to deal with the growing inflation while having little money to spend.

“A 20kg bag of flour hardly lasts a week. I’ve no option but to borrow money from traders,” he said.

Besides higher flour price, the people also complained of low quality of flour and said the administration was indifferent to their misery.