PANJGUR: A severe flour crisis has gripped Panjgur district, leading to the shutdown of local flour mills and leaving residents scrambling for basic sustenance. The crisis stems from the complete unavailability of wheat at the official level, paralyzing the local food supply chain.
With wheat stocks depleted, flour mills have been forced to close their operations. This has created a critical shortage, compelling traders to source flour from Quetta. However, this alternative is proving both unreliable and exorbitantly expensive, with prices rising daily. The cost of a 40-kilogram sack of flour has surged to between Rs 5,800 and Rs 6,000, while a 20-kilogram bag now sells for Rs 2,900.
The situation highlights a stark failure in price control mechanisms. Despite official price lists being fixed at the district level for flour and sugar, local officials admit that “not even one percent” of these controls are being implemented on the ground. The market is operating without any effective regulatory oversight, allowing prices to skyrocket unchecked.
Frustrated and anxious citizens have issued a direct appeal to the government and district administration, urging immediate intervention to enforce the official price list and restore wheat supply. The closure of local mills not only signifies an economic setback but also poses a direct threat to food security in the region, with families bearing the brunt of the inflationary spiral.
