Wheat flour prices reach record high: Govt urged to allow private-sector wheat imports immediately

Flour millers have called on the federal government to permit private-sector wheat imports without delay, as flour prices climb to record levels. According to industry sources cited by Business Recorder, flour costs rose 31.7 percent year-on-year in urban markets and 34.3 percent in rural areas, driven by scarce grain after a smaller harvest. Current retail rates include Rs161 per kg for Flour No 2.5, Rs173 per kg for Maida and Rs180 per kg for Chakki flour.

Yaser Malik, chairman of the flour mills sub-committee at FPCCI, put Sindh's FY27 wheat availability at 4.84 million metric tons against demand of 6.53 million, a gap of 1.69 million. Nationally, output of 27.5 million metric tons fell 2.2 million short of the 29.7 million target. The provincial government holds only 346,414 tonnes, and with 190,000 tonnes from PASSCO and 300,000 tonnes of planned imports, supply would reach 836,414 tonnes, enough for just five months before the new crop arrives in March-April 2027.

Millers have also refused government wheat at Rs12,500 per 100kg bag, saying only about 15 percent of the Landhi stock is fit for use. Yaser Malik said private imports could land at Rs105 per kg, allowing flour at Rs130 per kg, and argued that Trading Corporation of Pakistan imports are slow and costly. He wants duty-free, subsidy-free private imports, warning that mills will otherwise shut.