Alarming Rise in Flour Prices Exposes Government’s Poor Governance; People Deprived of Even Two Square Meals a Day: Pashtunkhwa NAP

QUETTA (Daily Quadrat Quetta) — The Pashtunkhwa National Awami Party (Pashtunkhwa NAP) has expressed serious concern over the alarming increase in flour prices across Balochistan, especially in Quetta and other districts, the unavailability of flour at official rates and the continuous decline in people’s purchasing power, saying that government incompetence, poor planning and the absence of effective monitoring have made it difficult for the poor and middle class to obtain even two square meals a day.

According to the party, a 20 kg bag of flour is being sold in Quetta for approximately Rs3,250 to Rs3,330, while the price of 50 kg of fine flour has reached approximately Rs8,000. Reports suggest prices in some districts have exceeded even this. The burden of rising flour prices is falling most heavily on labourers, daily-wage workers, low-income employees and poor families, who are already distressed by inflation in electricity, gas, medicines and other basic necessities.

The Pashtunkhwa National Awami Party said it is the government’s responsibility to ensure the availability of flour at reasonable prices in Quetta as well as Pishin, Qila Abdullah, Chaman, Zhob, Loralai, Qila Saifullah, Ziarat, Sherani, Sibi, Kohlu, Barkhan, Musakhel, Harnai, Duki, Washuk and other districts of the province. Issuing official price lists alone cannot provide relief to the people; rather, it is necessary to improve the wheat supply and distribution system and take effective measures to end hoarding, artificial shortages and profiteering.

The party demanded that the provincial government immediately review the situation of wheat stocks and flour supply in the province and ensure wheat supply as needed. It called for establishing a system to ensure the availability of quality flour at official rates in all districts and effective monitoring of prices, taking action against those charging above the fixed rates and against hoarders, and providing flour at subsidised rates to low-income families and workers.

The statement further demanded that authentic statistics regarding flour prices and official wheat stocks be released regularly so that the people can get real relief.

The Pashtunkhwa National Awami Party made clear that providing basic necessities of life at reasonable prices is the government’s fundamental responsibility. The people should be given practical relief instead of mere announcements, and immediate, effective and accountable measures should be taken to control flour inflation. The party said it will continue its political and democratic struggle to protect the people’s economic rights and ensure the provision of basic necessities.