Prices of wheat and other consumer goods have skyrocketed like never before in Pakistan. It is reported that the main cause behind this inflation is the smuggling, and black-marketing of wheat and other consumer goods.
As per Chakki owners, the secondary reason behind this inflation is attributed to a shortage of grains and high wheat support prices.
This inflation in prices is also due to Russia-Ukraine War. The war has made the import of wheat very difficult.
The rise in prices has been especially noticed in the Punjab Province of Pakistan. The province is called the “Breadbasket of Pakistan.” In Rawalpindi, the price was Rs 150/kg. The rate of an ex-mill full flour bag is being sold in the city for Rs 13,000.
The Naanbai Association in Rawalpindi has stated that if prices are not brought under control, the association will have to sell roti (bread) for five rupees again. In Lahore, the rate is Rs 145/kg.
Khaleeq Arshad, the former chairman of the PFMA said that hardly 21,000-22,000 tonnes of wheat was being released by the Punjab food department.
According to Khaleeq, the release of government wheat in other provinces of Pakistan like Sindh, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan was also negligible, he stated that there are insufficient grains in the market in comparison with the demand.
Despite having complete knowledge of the current market situation, wheat import had been delayed by the government. According to a Pakistani media channel Geo News, a surge in the prices of meat especially chicken, rice and wheat flour pushed weekly inflation up by 1.09 per cent in Pakistan.
The increase in prices was seen for chicken (16.09 pc), broken basmati rice (5.16 pc), wheat flour (4.87 pc), rice (3.45 pc), bananas (2.97 pc), onions (2.65 pc), bread (1.24 pc), powdered salt (1.07 pc), and pulse moong was to blame for the increase in the sensitive price indicator (SPI) (1.02pc).
