QUETTA: The wheat supply situation in Balochistan has worsened after the province’s government-held wheat stocks were reportedly exhausted, raising concerns about the availability and prices of flour in the province.
Sources in the Balochistan Commodities Department said the government’s wheat reserves have run out, while procurement of fresh stocks has still not been completed despite approval from the provincial cabinet.
According to sources, the provincial cabinet had approved the purchase of 575,000 bags of wheat from PASSCO. However, administrative procedures have delayed the procurement process, leaving the province without sufficient government reserves.
The situation has also been compounded by restrictions on the interprovincial movement of wheat and flour from Punjab and Sindh. The Flour Mills Association said that wheat is currently unavailable not only in government warehouses but also in the open market, further intensifying supply concerns.
Market sources reported that the price of a 20-kilogram bag of flour has reached Rs3,260, putting additional pressure on consumers amid the worsening supply situation.
The delay in government procurement, depleted reserves and restrictions on supplies from other provinces have together created a challenging situation for Balochistan’s food supply chain. Immediate measures to restore wheat stocks and ensure uninterrupted interprovincial supplies could be crucial to preventing further price increases and shortages.
