In a bid to maintain market stability and protect consumers from inflated food costs, Sindh Provincial Minister for Food, Makhdoom Mehboob uz Zaman, chaired a high-level meeting on Friday with representatives from the Pakistan Flour Mills Association to review wheat stocks, pricing, and distribution across the province.
The meeting brought together key provincial leaders—including the Chief Minister’s Advisor on Rehabilitation, the CMIT Chairman, Commissioner Karachi, and the Secretary Food—alongside top Flour Mills Association officials, including Chief Patron Haji Yousif and Chairman Junaid Aziz.
Key Highlights & Government Action
- Public Welfare Priority: Minister Zaman reiterated that keeping basic food staples affordable is the government’s top objective, calling on flour millers to keep retail prices as low as possible while ensuring consistent distribution.
- Crackdown on Hoarding: Targeted, intelligence-backed raids against illegal hoarders and unauthorized traders have successfully stabilized the local wheat market. Government operations will continue to eliminate artificial price hikes.
- Strategic Reserves: The Sindh Food Department holds 446,947 metric tonnes of wheat in stock. This includes:
- 140,000 MT carry-over stock
- 81,812 MT newly procured wheat
- 225,135 MT recovered via anti-hoarding operations
- Inter-District Trade: There are no restrictions on moving wheat between districts within Sindh, ensuring an uninterrupted supply chain. The province is also prepared to acquire additional stock from PASSCO if market demand spikes.
Market Status & Industry Requests
| Key Metric / Topic | Current Status & Details |
| Karachi Flour Price | Retailing around Rs. 125 per kg (Govt-notified rate). |
| Karachi Wheat Price | Selling at approximately Rs. 11,600 per 100 kg bag. |
| Storage Capacity Proposal | Millers requested increasing legal storage limits from 1 to 2 months of grinding capacity to improve operational workflow. |
| Licensing Enforcement | Unlicensed traders driving price manipulation face ongoing legal prosecution. |
The Flour Mills Association commended Sindh’s historical support in sharing wheat reserves with neighboring provinces when needed and pledged full support to maintain stable prices. Minister Zaman promised that industry concerns—including the proposed increase in storage limits—would be reviewed by the provincial government, while reiterating a strict zero-tolerance policy against market manipulation.
