LAHORE, Sept 8: The current wheat release policy of the Punjab government has failed to cater to the needs of over 50 per cent of urban poor besides addressing the flour quality issue.According to market watchers, over 50 per cent of urban poor purchase loose flour on a daily basis. The current policy of selling flour bags on vehicles of City District Government leaves them out, since they do not have purchasing power to buy bags.

“Yes, it is a fact that over 50 per cent flour is sold loose and the current sale policy excludes them,” says an official of the Lahore Karyana (retailers) Merchant Association. Some of the mills used to prepare loose flour for this segment of population, but not these days.

Since the government has fixed 80-20 ratio of flour preparation, which means that every mill has to contribute 80 per cent of total grinding as flour, and sell it through the official staff appointed by the Punjab and city governments, it does not leave space for preparing loose flour.

“It has only encouraged black marketing of flour,” says a miller from the city. There are reports that some people purchase flour from official vehicles and sell it to small shopkeepers against a handsome profit. Loose flour in the market is available at Rs23 to Rs25 per kg against the official price of Rs15 per kg.