The Karachi commissioner has finally released the official flour rates after nearly six months, drawing mixed reactions from stakeholders.
While some praised the effort to stabilise prices, others criticised the minimal reductions, citing insufficient relief for the public.
According to the notification, the price of fine flour has been fixed as follows:
- Public price: Rs99 per kg
- Wholesale price: Rs95 per kg
- Flour mills price: Rs92 per kg
For flour no 2.5, the rates have been set at:
- Public price: Rs94 per kg
- Wholesale price: Rs90 per kg
- Flour mills price: Rs87 per kg
Furthermore. chakki flour will be sold at Rs115 per kilogramme, as per the notification.
This marks the first revision of flour prices since June 2024, during which time the price of wheat per kilogramme has decreased by Rs26, according to market dealers.
The chairman of the Wholesale Grocers, Abdul Rauf Ibrahim, expressed dissatisfaction with the revised rates, terming the reductions as negligible. “The prices of flour have only been reduced by Rs1 to 2, offering no significant relief to the public,” he said.
Ibrahim further highlighted that the official price of the chakki flour remains unchanged, a move he believes will benefit flour mill owners more than the general public.
Current prices of flour no 2.5:
- The wholesale price in the market is Rs86 per kg, while the commissioner’s notification increased it to Rs90 per kg.
- Fine flour is already being sold at Rs96 per kg in the wholesale market, making the Re1 reduction in its official price insignificant.
“The Karachi commissioner has not provided substantial relief to the people,” Ibrahim stated, adding that the primary beneficiaries of these prices are the flour mill owners.
