For last two days, mills have completely stopped milling of wheat, which created some crisis in the city and pushed the wheat flour price by Rs 2 per kg. Price of wheat flour (Fine Ata) 80-kg bag has surged by Rs 250 to new peak level of Rs 2500 per 80-kg bag in the domestic market. With the current increase, wheat flour price has surged to new peak level of Rs 32 per kg from Rs 30.
The price of Chakki Ata has also increased by Rs 2 per kg to Rs 34 per kg in the retail market. "We will continue strike till the acceptation of our demands and removal of vigilance teams from mills," said Iqbal Dawood, chairman, Pakistan Flour Mills Association, Sindh Circle.
He said that over 124 flourmills of Sindh completely suspended their operation on Tuesday and not a single bag of wheat was milled. He said no government official has contacted us on the strike issue so far, therefore, the strike will continue on Wednesday.
However, director food Ashfaq Mosovi has claimed that flourmills' strike has failed and over 35 mills have started operation and their production is enough to meet the demand in the province. "If Karachi faces some shortage of wheat flour, the flour would be arranged from interior Sindh. "We will not stop operation against millers, who are tarrying to manipulate the wheat flour market."
He said that during September, Sindh Food Department provided some 139,739 tons to mills, however as per quantity, it has not been sold by flourmills. The government has failed to ensure price stability of the commodity in the local market, as prices of wheat grain are still on the rise, traders said. "We are expecting further increase in wheat prices if the government failed to take action against millers," they added.