Government’s big decision to make flour cheaper

KARACHI: The residents of the city are forced to buy the most expensive flour in the country, and the Sindh government has taken a big decision to reduce its prices.

According to ARY News, a cabinet meeting chaired by Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah took important decisions on wheat hoarding and reforms in the food department, and the National Wheat Policy 2026-2030 along with wheat reserves was reviewed.

While giving a briefing in the meeting, it was informed that Sindh is facing a shortage of 1.59 million tons of wheat in the financial year 2026-27 and the price of wheat in the open market has exceeded the government support rate of Rs 3,500.

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, taking strict notice of the artificial shortage of flour by traders and hoarders, ordered action against hoarders to reduce and stabilize the prices of flour.

The Sindh Chief Minister said that wheat hoarding will not be tolerated at all costs and directed that public interest should be ensured at all costs.

Murad Ali Shah said that the entire system of wheat procurement, storage and distribution will be digitalized, and the Food Department should immediately take practical steps towards digitalization. The involvement of the private sector and a modern commodity management system should be promoted.

He said that the Food Department should be made a modern, technology-based regulatory institution. The Food Department should focus on policy making, monitoring and food security.

While considering the proposal to make the Food Department completely digital in the meeting, the Sindh government also decided to bring an Integrated Weight Management System in the Food Department. The Science and IT Department has approved the Integrated Weight Management System.

The provincial cabinet decided to recommend the inclusion of Sindh Information Technology Company and give SITC one month to review it.

The Sindh cabinet reviewed the draft of the proposed National Wheat Policy of the Federation. The Chief Minister has formed a high-level cabinet committee to review the national wheat policy, which will submit recommendations on the wheat policy within a specified period.