LAHORE: The Pakistan Flour Mills Association (PFMA) has urged the federal government to immediately approve wheat imports, warning that the country can face a flour shortage by December if timely arrangements are not made, despite the Punjab government’s decision to release official wheat stocks to stabilise the market.
PFMA Chairman Asim Raza said in a statement on Tuesday that wheat was currently selling between Rs4,300 and Rs4,500 per maund across Punjab, a sharp increase that was pushing up flour and bread prices and placing an additional burden on consumers.
He welcomed the Punjab government’s decision to release wheat from its official stocks, describing it as a positive intervention that would help stabilise market prices and discourage speculative trading.
“The release of government wheat will improve market supplies and help eliminate the artificial shortage created by hoarding,” he said, adding that the measure should ultimately contribute to lower flour and bread prices if implemented effectively.
Millers say Punjab stocks release alone unlikely to do away with volatility
