Pakistan Faces Worsening Flour Crisis as Punjab Restricts Wheat Supply, Prices Hit ₹140 Per Kilogram

International News: Punjab province in Pakistan has imposed an undeclared ban on the movement of wheat. This has led to a severe shortage of flour across Pakistan. Not only this, the prices of flour have also increased drastically in other provinces. Let us tell you that Punjab is the largest wheat producing state of Pakistan.

80 percent of the entire wheat of the entire country is produced in Punjab only. In such a situation, due to this undeclared blockade, flour crisis has arisen in many parts of the country including Sindh, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The situation is so serious that two meals a day are disappearing from the plates of the poor.

What did Punjab say in its clarification?

Amid public criticism in Pakistan, Punjab has denied imposing a formal ban. However, Punjab officials have admitted setting up checkpoints to monitor the movement of "unusual" wheat. However, other states in Pakistan allege that such restrictions are contrary to market sentiment and violate the country's constitution.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh condemned Punjab

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh have condemned the restrictions, Dawn reported. Both provinces rely heavily on Punjab's wheat supply. The All-Pakistan Flour Mills Association (PFMA) said the policy is unconstitutional, citing Article 151 of the Constitution, which guarantees free trade and commerce throughout the country. According to Riazullah Khan, president of the Punjab Flour Mills Association, trucks carrying wheat and flour are being stopped at checkpoints in Punjab, with several vehicles seized.

Flour prices skyrocket in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Reports indicate that flour prices are skyrocketing in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. A 20-kilogram sack of flour now sells for up to 2,800 Pakistani rupees in the state, compared to around 1,800 Pakistani rupees in Punjab. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi called the ban a "blatant violation of Article 151" and a "serious breach of national unity." The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly also passed a unanimous resolution condemning the ban, claiming that flour prices have risen by more than 68 percent.