HYDERABAD: Roller flour mills and chakki owners in Sindh have reluctantly agreed to procure wheat from the provincial food department’s godowns following a downward revision of the issue price, officials said on Thursday.
The Sindh government persuaded the stakeholders to reconsider after the department reduced the price of wheat stocks to Rs8,000 per 100kg bag from the earlier rate of Rs9,500. Millers and chakki owners had previously refused to lift the wheat at the higher rate, arguing that superior-quality wheat was available at lower prices in the open market.
Former Food Secretary Bachal Rahpoto, who recently stepped down, told Dawn that around 1.265 million tonnes of wheat are currently held in the department’s godowns, including stocks procured in the 2024-25 season and earlier years. The reduction in price aims to clear old stocks before the arrival of the fresh crop.
Millers’ Concerns
Millers in Karachi expressed logistical difficulties in collecting wheat from the Pipri godown, which is under the control of the Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) and operates as a rented facility for the food department. Junaid Aziz, South Zone President of the All Pakistan Flour Mills Association, said restrictions on vehicle entry after certain hours made lifting wheat challenging, despite having already deposited payment challans.
Although millers preferred procuring wheat from the open market, the price revision prompted them to reconsider and agree to collect stocks from the food department. Aziz also raised concerns over the quality of older wheat stocks, noting that a portion of the wheat is needed for blending due to potential deterioration in aged supplies.
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Chakki Owners’ Issues
\Some chakki owners have also expressed reservations over additional costs imposed during procurement. A Hyderabad-based owner alleged that illegal charges are being levied by officials—Rs1,000 per bag by certain employees and Rs300 per bag by the godown incharge. Such practices, they warned, would likely increase the retail price of flour, which currently ranges between Rs120 and Rs130 per kilogram.
The food department has decided to issue wheat stocks at the rate of Rs8,000 per a 100kg bag.https://t.co/VM1MIgWUoA
— Dawn.com (@dawn_com) January 2, 2026
Yasir Malik, a flour mill owner in lower Sindh, said that while the official issue price is Rs8,000 per 100kg bag, additional miscellaneous expenses would raise overall costs, potentially impacting end consumers.
Officials stressed that the government is working to ensure smooth procurement and distribution while clearing old wheat stocks ahead of the new crop season. The move is also expected to stabilize flour supply in the province, despite concerns over pricing and quality of existing stocks.
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