KARACHI: The arrival of essential commodities — major crops — from the upcountry producing areas as well as from the port has remained unaffected, commodity traders and retailers told Dawn on Wednesday.

Contrary to these claims, consumers complained of shortages especially branded flour varieties in many areas since Sunday, questioning various retailers over its availability.

Consumers have resorted to panic-buying amid fears of shortages from the impact of coronavirus on commodity production and supply chain due to an imminent economic slowdown.

Retailers have also run out of flour stocks in view of continued panic buying. However, other products like pulses, ghee, cooking oil, rice, sugar etc are easily available.

“There is no need to get scared for flour availability as new crop from Sindh has started arriving in the open market,” said Pakistan Flour Mills Association Sindh Zone Chairman Khalid Masood while speaking to Dawn.

He added that “from October 2019 till to date, millers in Sindh have ground around 750,000 tonnes of wheat including 500,000 of the Pakistan Agriculture Storage and Service Corporation (Passco) and 300,000 of Sindh government.” He said the mills will be provided around 50,000 tonnes of wheat from Passco in the next few days.

Khalid said that Sindh government did not procure wheat last year claiming to have 800,000 tonnes. He said these claims were false as these stocks were only on the official books.

Sindh government would procure 1.5 million tonnes of wheat from growers this year at a price of Rs1,400 per 40kg.

A flour miller held consumers responsible for causing flour shortage as they have resorted to panic buying despite repeated advisories issued by the government. “Many people have lifted three to four bags instead of one bag from shops which is much higher than their requirement. Every mill has a production capacity. It cannot be exceeded,” he said.

Karachi Wholesalers Grocers Association Patron-in-Chief Anis Majeed said “buying activity from the retailers for sugar, pulses, rice, flour, etc has now soared to 40 per cent from 20-25pc few days back to cope up with demand from consumers who rushed to the markets over reports of market shut downs,” he added.

However, he claimed that retailers have not purchased stocks for Ramazan yet which will begin from the third week of April.

Demand and supply situation of essential commodities in Dandia Bazar, Jodia Bazar, Lea Market, Kharadar and New Challi remained normal. “Arrival of commodities from upcountry producing areas and imported pulses has from port has remained steady,” he added.

He said gram pulse (washed) supply had ranged about 2,950-3,250 tonnes in the last 15 days followed by 753-893 tonnes of mash (washed), 1,300-1,385 tonnes of masoor (washed), 1,184-1,384 tonnes of moong (washed), 4,812-5,212 tonnes of rice basmati and 26,989-29,989 tonnes of sugar. Irri Rice-6 supply is slow as 90pc supplies are exported to international markets.

He said the commodity markets would continue to operate as per government’s decision but urged Karachi Commissioner to provide “masks to shopkeepers and workers, ensure availability of doctors and sanitisers etc in the markets as precautionary measures against coronavirus.”

In vegetables, Falahi Anjuman Wholesale Vegetable Market President Haji Shahjehan said “the market has not witnessed any supply problems so far in various vegetables from the producing areas of upcountry and is operating normally.” However, consumers had seen a jump of Rs20-40 per kg prices of tomatoes following the increase in wholesale prices.

Sindh Poultry Wholesalers Association General Secretary Kamal Akhtar Siddiqui said the arrival of live bird from Punjab and outskirts of Karachi have been going normal. “Around 800,000 birds are being slaughtered daily in Karachi,” he added.

He said the ban on marriages and other receptions and outdoor dining has so far not hit poultry sales as people are managing meals through food deliveries. The share of chicken sales for home consumption, hotels/restaurants and wedding/valima receptions is 33pc each.

Published in Dawn, March 19th, 2020