Flour prices receive significant surge, up by Rs 1300 per bag

ISLAMABAD: The flour prices in Punjab including twin cities Islamabad and Rawalpindi have witnessed a significant increase in the prices of flour, causing panic among consumers.

According to reports, millers in the region have increased the retail figure of an 80-kg bag of flour by Rs1300. This sudden and drastic increase in the price of this basic commodity has made it very difficult for the lower and upper-middle class to survive

In another development, the Naan Bai Association has convened an urgent meeting to address the increase in bread (roti) rates due to flour inflation.

This indicates that the surge in prices is not only limited to the production of roti but also its ingredients and hence the price of bread will also go up.

Notably, the federal government wavered the 5.5% tax imposed on the mill owners completely which was to be paid in advance after negotiations.

Earlier, the government held a meeting with the flour millers to negotiate as they announced a strike against the advance tax introduced in the 2024-25 budget.

This boycotting impulse lasted three days and as a result, flour became scarce, especially in Karachi.

The owners of the flour mills had presented the reasons that growing electricity bills have already made it hard for them to operate their businesses.

The removal of the tax was viewed rather positively, and immediately afterward the disk of flour raised its price again, which worried many people. Quite clearly, this calls for stringent practices and supervision over the command of prices to improve the affordability of basic goods and services to all.