Tag: wheat

  • Punjab Flour Mills Association declares indefinite strike from today, halts flour supply

    Punjab Flour Mills Association declares indefinite strike from today, halts flour supply

    The Punjab Flour Mills Association has declared an indefinite strike from today, disrupting the supply of flour to the market from February 14th.

    The strike is a response to the suspension of wheat quotas for over 100 flour mills by the Punjab Food Department.

    The ongoing differences between the Flour Mills Association and the Food Department have reached a boiling point following the government’s decision to suspend the quotas.

    The Chairman of the Punjab Flour Mills Association released a statement announcing that the flour mills will no longer receive wheat from the government quota, resulting in the discontinuation of the provision of affordable flour to the market.

    He also requested the Food Department to provide evidence for any alleged malpractice within the association.

    Prior to this development, the open market price of wheat in Punjab experienced a significant decrease of Rs1,200 per maund, due to the increased wheat quota and import. Market dealers report that the price dropped from Rs5,200 per maund to Rs4,000 per maund.

    As a result of a decrease of Rs1,200 per maund, the price of wheat per kilogramme in the open market has fallen to Rs100 from its previous rate of Rs130 per kg, according to ARY News.

  • Flour mill owners in Punjab threaten to suspend market supplies on February 14

    Flour mill owners in Punjab threaten to suspend market supplies on February 14

    The owners of flour mills have threatened to go on strike, halting supplies to the markets on February 14th, and are demanding that the Punjab food department immediately meet their demands.

    The Chairman of the Pakistan Flour Mills Association (PFMA) Punjab chapter, Chaudhry Iftikhar Ahmad Mattu, has issued a warning of a planned strike on February 14th if the provincial food department does not address their demands.

    During a press conference, the Chairman of PFMA Punjab Mattu criticised the inappropriate behavior and incorrect policies of the provincial food secretary.

    According to ARY News, the Chairman stated that the wrong policies of the food secretary have impacted the supply of flour, leading to the closure of multiple flour mills. He further announced that the flour mills will stop receiving wheat quota from the government starting from February 13th.

    In addition, Chaudhry Iftikhar Ahmad Mattu announced that the flour mills will cease supplies to the market on February 14th and proceed with a strike, unless their demands are promptly met by the Punjab food department. Meanwhile, the Karachi Dairy and Cattle Farmers Association declared its intention to raise milk prices by Rs20 per litre, effective from February 11th.

    In a statement from the Karachi Dairy and Cattle Farmers Association, the spokesperson attributed the price hike of milk to the increased cost of fuel and fodder. The official rate for milk has been set at Rs180 per litre, however, it is being sold for Rs190 in the city.

    With the increase, the price per litre of milk will rise to Rs210. The Commissioner of Karachi has recently ordered operations to seal dairy shops selling milk at elevated prices.

  • Flour price may increase to Rs200 per kilogramme soon

    Flour price may increase to Rs200 per kilogramme soon

    The pirce of “chakki” flour in Rawalpindi and Islamabad has soared to Rs170 per kilogramme due to the country’s escalating inflation.

    The price of “chakki atta” (chakki flour), which was formerly sold at Rs150 per kilogramme, has suddenly increased to Rs170 per kilogramme. The new pricing is applicable as of Sunday, according to the price list published by the Rawalpindi Islamabad Chakki Atta Association and displayed at chakkis.

    Unfortunately, the administrations of the twin cities have not made any announcements. Nazakat Shah, president of the association, and Ali Raza, general secretary, have both signed the price list.

    According to The News, chakki owners in Rawalpindi claim that the association informed them that the price of flour may rise to Rs200 per kilogramme in the near future.

    An owner claimed that he only received 10 bags of wheat, each weighing 50 kilogrammes, with condolences from wholesalers that they would have to restrict the product and that things would only get harder as time goes on.

    The price of rice has also increased by Rs50 per kilogramme in less than a week, in a similar manner. The best rice can be found for between Rs340 and Rs380 per kilogramme.

  • Govt raises ghee price by Rs75 per kg, sugar by Rs19 per kg

    Govt raises ghee price by Rs75 per kg, sugar by Rs19 per kg

    The government-run Utility Store Corporation (USC) has increased the price of sugar, flour, ghee, and other food items despite the prime minister’s relief package.

    Utility stores increased the price of sugar by Rs19 per kg, ghee by Rs75 per kg, and 20 kg bag of flour by Rs496.

    According to the notification, the new prices will go into effect at utility stores all around the nation on January 1, 2023.

    The Benazir Income Support Programme’s (BISP) deserving beneficiaries will not be subject to the new pricing.

    Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif had previously stated that Food Stores Corporation would provide targeted subsidies on basic food items. These products included rice, lentils, ghee, sugar, and flour. Customers who are registered in the Benazir Income Support Programme are eligible to purchase food from the Food Stores outlets at discounted prices.

    In the meantime, the Food Stores Corporation has instructed all of its clients and consumers to SMS their Computerized National Identity Card numbers from their mobile phones to 5566. After receiving a one-time password, they can then purchase goods and apply for subsidies.

  • Flour prices hit record high in Punjab due to inter-provincial smuggling

    Flour prices hit record high in Punjab due to inter-provincial smuggling

    Owing to increased smuggling of wheat and subsidised flour bags to other provinces, the price of flour in the Punjabi capital increased by Rs5 per kilogramme to Rs140. 

    Smuggling has exacerbated Punjab’s flour problem, increasing open-market prices to an all-time high. According to sources, the subsidised flour bags were being smuggled into Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkwa at a cost of Rs2,400 each bag.

    Prices for 10-kg and 20-kg flour sacks in Lahore have risen to Rs1,400 and Rs2,800, respectively, while Chakki flour has risen to Rs140 per kilogramme, according to Dunya News.

    Meanwhile, on Wednesday, the local administration in Jhang stopped an attempt to smuggle flour bags from a local flour factory, seizing nearly 1,000 20 kg bags from a truck.

    According to wheat dealers, the open market price of wheat has risen to Rs4,700 per 40 kg. Furthermore, the rate for a commercial unit of power from 6 pm to 10 pm has risen to a staggering Rs70 to Rs80, severely hurting the economics of grain trading.

    Lahore Atta Chakki Owners Association has requested the government to immediately prohibit the inter-provincial movement of wheat and its products in order to halt the ongoing rise in wheat prices.

  • ‘No MoU on wheat and oil with Khan’s govt’: Russian ambassador to Pak

    ‘No MoU on wheat and oil with Khan’s govt’: Russian ambassador to Pak

    Danila Ganich, Russia’s ambassador to Pakistan, has said that in his opinion the Russian visit could have been “one of the factors” for the removal of former Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan from power but added that it was a sheer coincidence that Khan happened to be in Russia the day the Ukraine war broke out.

    “I think that was one of the factors but I also know that it was a sheer coincidence that he happened to be in Moscow on that very day,” said Ganich when asked if Khan’s government was removed from power because of his visit to Russia in an interview with Aaj News‘ senior anchorperson Shaukat Piracha.

    “The proof of that is just the fact that he was in Moscow on that very day, had he known that the operation would start on that very day, definitely he would have tried to refrain from being there on that very day. So that was a coincidence.”

    “As an ambassador of a foreign country I prefer not to interfere in your internal affairs.”

    “I do know that Pakistani [authorities] concluded that there was no conspiracy. So here I would like to say period. I cannot take sides here, especially when your judge concluded that there was no conspiracy,” said Ganich.

    Ganich said that Russia and Pakistan did not conclude any memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Khan’s claims that Russia had agreed to sell both wheat and oil at a 20 per cent and 30 per cent discount to Pakistan due to the efforts of his government.

    “I can confirm that we did not conclude any MoU,” the ambassador revealed. “As for what kind of discounts could have been offered [on oil and wheat], I cannot comment on this, as these are confidential negotiations.”

    Earlier, Russian Counsel General in Karachi, Andrey Fedorov said that a proposal was discussed between the two parties, while categorically denying that any letter was written by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government to Russia, reported Samaa News.

    Finance Minister Miftah Ismail in an interview with CNN’s Becky Anderson refuted Khan’s claims that Russia has not offered a 30 per cent discount on oil or wheat.

    Miftah further said that even though a letter was written by former minister Hammad Azhar, Russia did not respond to the letter.

    Former premier Khan recently said that during his time in power, the PTI government had signed an agreement with Russia to buy cheap oil and wheat. Adding that his government remained in power Pakistan would not have to face the petrol bomb.

  • Govt announces Rs3 billion subsidy to provide ghee at discounted rate

    Govt announces Rs3 billion subsidy to provide ghee at discounted rate

    The Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb announced on Monday that the government would provide a Rs3 billion subsidy to lower the price of ghee to assist the masses.

    She told a press conference that the market price of ghee is currently Rs550 per kg, but it is being sold at Rs300 per kg in utility stores across the country, according to AAJ News

    “The government is bearing a cost of Rs250 per kg,” she added, adding that the price of ghee was Rs150 per kg when the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) handed over the office to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in 2018.

    On the other hand, the government has increased the price of ghee and cooking oil at other retailers.

    She further stated that a 10 kg wheat bag could be purchased for Rs400 at any utility store in Pakistan.

    The minister said that on June 6, about one hundred mobile vans were added to the Utility Stores Corporation (USC) network, citing residents of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) having difficulty obtaining discounted items due to limited distribution of utility stores.

    9,500 new utility stores

    “In addition, on June 9, 500 new USC stationary stations were set up to deliver wheat, and 100 more items are being added today,” she stated. “Since June 6, the USC network has grown by 700 units”.

    Price control committees have also been established, according to her, to keep hoarding and reselling of USC materials under check. The availability of items at utility retailers, she said, was also being watched.

    The minister stated that Rs17 billion had been set aside to give the public with low-cost sugar, ghee, and wheat.

  • Energy sector to get a massive portion of the Rs699 billion subsidy

    Energy sector to get a massive portion of the Rs699 billion subsidy

    The government has proposed allocating Rs699 billion to multiple sectors in order to provide relief to the masses during the new fiscal year 2022-23.

    According to budget estimates, the government plans to boost subsidies by Rs17 billion to Rs699 billion for the next fiscal year, up from Rs682 billion in the previous fiscal year.

    The government has reduced power sector subsidies by Rs26 billion to Rs570 billion for the next fiscal year, down from Rs596 billion in the previous fiscal year and proposed increasing the total subsidy for the power sector for PEPCO by Rs18 billion to Rs275 billion. The budget 2022-23 proposed reducing the subsidy amount for K-Electric by Rs5 billion to Rs80 billion.

    Moreover, subsidies for Independent Power Producers (IPPs) are slashed by Rs39 billion to Rs215 billion for the coming fiscal year.

    The amount of petroleum subsidy has been upped from Rs51 billion to Rs71 billion. During the next fiscal year, the Utility Stores Corporation (USC) will receive a Rs17 billion subsidy. PASSCO will also receive Rs7 billion subsidy.

    During the next fiscal year, Rs8 billion has been set aside for wheat subsidies to Gilgit-Baltistan. For the coming fiscal year, the subsidy for the metro bus service has been increased to Rs4 billion. Similarly, the fertiliser plant subsidy has been increased to Rs15 billion.

    Read more: Govt unveils Rs9.5 trillion budget 22-23, focused on sustainable growth

    The new government has reduced the Naya Pakistan Housing and Development Authority (NAPHDA) subsidy amount to Rs500 million for the next fiscal year, down from Rs30 billion in the previous fiscal year. NAPHDA’s markup subsidy has also been reduced, from Rs.3 billion to Rs.500 million for the coming fiscal year.

  • Weekly inflation based on SPI, records a slight decline

    Weekly inflation based on SPI, records a slight decline

    Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) revealed that the weekly Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI) for the joint consumption group fell 0.26 per cent for the week ending May 26, owing primarily to a drop in the prices of vital food products.

    The consolidated index was 174.62 on May 19, 2022, compared to 175.08 on May 19, 2021, while the SPI increased 16.97 per cent year on year when the index was 149.29 on May 27, 2021.

    The minor price reductions in essential items may be a sign that the government is finally gaining control of the country’s skyrocketing inflation, which has afflicted the poor strata.

    Here are the items that witnessed a decrease or increase in their prices:

    Decrement

    Wheat Flour (12.25 per cent), Chillies Powdered (6.48 per cent), Chicken (4.41 per cent), Garlic (2.99 per cent), and non-food item LPG (0.43 per cent) were among the commodities that saw a decline in their rates on a WoW premise out of the 51 supervised items, with a cumulative effect of (-1.00 per cent) into the total SPI for the blended group of goods (-0.26 per cent).

    Increment

    27 items elevated in the week, including potatoes (8.43 per cent), tomatoes (6.33 per cent), eggs (6.29 per cent), rice basmati broken (4.71 per cent), mustard oil (4.16 per cent), pulse masaoor (3.93 per cent), milk fresh (3.47 per cent), onions (3.03 per cent), pulse gramme (2.58 per cent), curd (2.35 per cent), washing soap (2.13 per cent), cooked beef (1.55 per cent), beef (1.42 per cent), pulse mash (1.33 per cent), cooked daal (1.24 per cent). While 19 commodities’ prices remained stable.

  • Wheat production will break all records this year: experts

    Wheat production will break all records this year: experts

    Pakistan will likely experience an upsurge in wheat production this year as experts are giving projections on the surplus of wheat, media reported.

    A media organisation conducted surveys that say that Pakistan will produce over 28.75 million tons of wheat in 2021. This yield will break the record of 2016-17 when Pakistan produced 26.67 million tons.

    Over the last two years, Pakistan had to import two million tons of wheat to cater for the shortage caused by low harvest. If the projections come true, it will eliminate the need for any imports.

    On the contrary, the Federal Committee on agriculture predicted that the production would remain at 26.04 million tons while showing an increase of 1.7 per cent. The committee gave these estimations while reviewing the performance of Rabi Crops in(2020/21). But the farmers are more optimistic about harvesting a greater output of wheat in the 2020/21 season.

    According to the Punjab Agriculture Department, the production of crops on the provincial level had jumped around 600,000 tons.

    The news report quoted the Chairman of the Agri-Forum Pakistan, Ibrahim Mughal, as saying, “We have never heard so consistently about 40-45 maunds per acre yield by so many growers this year”.

    A conducive temperature when the crop was sown has resulted in favourable prospects for high output. “Safely, we may see at least 1.5 million tons of more production than the initial estimates,” he said.