Price of 20kg flour bag jumps to Rs3,350 in Mansehra

MANSEHRA: The price of a 20-kilogramme wheat flour bag on Sunday increased by Rs400 as the local millers suspended supply of the commodity to the wholesalers.

"Prices of both fine and super-fine flour varieties have surged by Rs400 per 20kg bag as millers have suspended supply to wholesalers," Fayyaz Ahmad, an owner of a general store, told reporters on Sunday.

He said traders were astonished when the millers suspended the flour supply to them despite the fact that wheat harvest had begun in Hazara division.

"We are now selling flour bags arriving in the local bazaars through smuggling from Punjab at higher prices because wholesalers charge us extra amounts as truckers have to pay bribes to the officials at checkposts," he claimed.

Mr Ahmad said price of 20kg bag of fine quality flour, which was Rs2,950 a few days ago, had now risen to Rs3,350, and that of supper fine quality from Rs2,850 to Rs3,250.

Another trader said during the fasting month there was stability in the price of wheat flour as the government had launched the free flour scheme.

He said the Punjab government, despite having a ‘record’ wheat production this season, has put in place a ban on its transportation to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which deteriorated the already fragile situation in the province.

Meanwhile, the district administration officials also paid surprise visits to local bazaars to check the hoarding of flour.

Additional assistant commissioner Qamar Zia Malik paid surprise visits to godowns on Sunday and checked stock of flour and sugar.

"The district administration is vigilant and will not allow anybody to hoard or create artificial shortage of wheat flour in the markets," Mr Malik told reporters.

KILLED: A speeding vehicle killed a minor boy in Murad Pura area here on Sunday.

Abdul Hadee, 8, was crossing the road when the vehicle hit him.

Locals rushed him to a nearby health facility, where doctors pronounced him dead.

The driver managed to escape.

Meanwhile, Rescue 1122 continued its search for the body of an Afghan boy, who drowned in Siren River in Khaki area the other day.

Mohammad Waris, 14, and his two companions were swept away by torrents.

Locals had rescued two of them, and continued search for Waris.

Published in Dawn, May 8th, 2023

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