KARACHI: The commissioner of Karachi has reduced the prices of various varieties of flour but retailers, instead of implementing the new rates, are charging more from consumers.

On December 26, the wholesale and retail prices of flour No2.5 were reduced from Rs90 and Rs94 to Rs85 and Rs89 per kg.

The flour No2.5 is the one which is mostly used by tandoor operators. The price reduction was Rs5 per kg.

The new wholesale and retail rates of fine flour have been notified at Rs92 and Rs96 per kg as compared to Rs95 and Rs99 per kg, respectively.

Despite recent cuts, consumers are still paying higher prices for different wheat flour varieties

Retail chakki flour price has been cut by Rs10 to Rs105 per kg.

Surprisingly, the December 26 notification does not carry the ex-mill rates of flour No2.5 and fine flours, while the same were prominent in the previous lists.

On June 5, 2024, wholesale and retail rates of flour No2.5 were Rs91 and Rs95 per kg. The wholesale and retail rates of fine flour were Rs95 and Rs100 per kg, while chakki flour retail rate was Rs115 per kg.

A market survey revealed that consumers were paying Rs110-120 per kg for flour No2.5 and fine flour, showing a massive price difference between the official and market rates.

“One of the reasons of retailers’ fleecing consumers is lack of display of official price lists at retail shops,” said Karachi Wholesalers Grocers Association (KWGA) chairman Rauf Ibrahim.

He said it was the government’s responsibility to publish price list at mass level instead of posting the list on social media.

In addition to the absence of a price list, the officials of the city government also did not pay any visit to markets to impose fines on shopkeepers for overcharging, he added.

He said that the commissioner and his team should also pay visits to wholesale markets and ensure official price implementation.

“Keeping in view the local and imported wheat rates, which are Rs74 and Rs70 per kg, respectively, official prices of various flour varieties can be further cut by Rs2 per kg,” he suggested.

Prior to the new price list which was issued on December 26, the commissioner of Karachi took more than six months to announce flour rates on December 17.

Amid no price fixing for branded flour varieties, the 5kg Ashrafi and Bake Parlour fine flour bag is available at Rs630 while 5kg chakki branded flour bag is selling at Rs600.

Grocery rates

While no retailers have been seen displaying the official price list of vegetables at their shops, consumers are also seeing huge price differences in other items.

For example, the official rates of new potato and onion are Rs92 but they are available at Rs100-150 per kg in the markets.

Tomato is selling at Rs200-220 per kg as against the official rate of Rs173 per kg.

The official rate of sugar is fixed at Rs125 per kg while retailers are selling the sweetener at Rs135-145 per kg.

The market retail rates of masoor, moong, mash and gram pulse are Rs280-320, Rs330-340, Rs440-520 and Rs360-420 per kg as against their official rates of Rs262, Rs325, Rs425 and Rs355 per kg, respectively.

Mutton is selling at Rs2,200-2,400 as against its official rate of Rs2,000 per kg.

Beef (veal) with bones is being sold at Rs1,250 per kg while the government’s rate is Rs1,000.

The price of boneless meat is Rs1,500-1,600 per kg as against the officially fixed price of Rs1,150 per kg.

Live poultry is available at Rs430-450 per kg versus the official rate is Rs402 per kg.

Published in Dawn, December 31st, 2024