mill rate jacks up ‘atta’ price
The price of ‘atta’ is going up with each passing day as the Punjab government is yet to fix ex mill rate and unable to provide wheat quota to the mills. The price of wheat has increased once again in the open market by Rs125 per 40 kilograms from Rs1,325 to Rs1,450 and a 20 kilogram bag of ‘atta’ is being sold for Rs820 to 860 in the open market.
According to the All Pakistan Flourmills Association (APFA), if government did not give wheat quota to mills, a 20 kilogram ‘atta’ bag would be sold in the open market for Rs900 in some days.
All Pakistan Flourmil omega watches ls Association (APFA) (Punjab) Vice Chairman Muhammad Rehan said that they have not yet purchased wheat because Punjab government is yet to provide them with their quota. “The wheat price is increasing daily in the open market. It has gone up from Rs1,325 to Rs1,450, therefore, ‘atta’ is sold at high prices. “If the government did not give us wheat quota, a 20 kilogram bag will be sold for Rs900,” he warned. “We are expecting that the Punjab government w omega watches ill set wheat price at Rs1,250,” he hoped.
When ‘The News’ contacted District Food Controller (DFC) Shabbir Khan Niazi, he said that the Punjab government is yet to fix ex mill price, therefore, ‘atta’ is sold at high rates. The mill owners are purchasing wheat from the open market at different rates, therefore, ‘atta’ bags are sold at different rates, he claimed. But after issuance of wheat quota, ‘atta’ price will come down, he assured.
Only consumers are facing financial burden of increase in ‘at omega watches ta’ price. The mill owners are selling wheat at higher prices in the open market and pouring down all burden on the poor public and selling ‘atta’ bags at higher prices. Similarly, retail shopkeepers are selling ‘atta’ bags after adding their profit.
Talking to ‘The News,’ consum omega watches ers said that shopkeepers are increasing ‘atta’ prices on daily basis without taking into consideration their meagre financial resources. They blamed the government for making whooping increase in rates of all essential commodities, particularly ‘atta’.
Muhamamd Israr, a citizen, said that the rates of ghee, cooking oil, sugar, tea and pulses are constantly increasing due to lack of a strong administration, which could control this menace. He added that there was abundant stock of wheat in the city godowns but there was no check on rates.
Hameed Ahmed, another consumer, said that it seems that the federal and the Punjab governments had joined hands to facilitate only the privileged class and had left the masses at the mercy of hoarders and profiteers. He said the government was playing with sentiments of the poor by presenting mini budgets every day. He blasted the hike in flour prices and demanded of the government to take remedial measures in this regard.