50kg bag hits Rs6,800; residents demand urgent govt intervention as Ramazan nears
Locals line up near a truck to get flour at the official rate in Quetta amid a shortage of the commodity. Photo: INP
QUETTA:
Flour prices in Quetta have shown no signs of decline, leaving residents grappling with severe financial strain as the staple food becomes increasingly out of reach for ordinary households.
In the city markets, a 50-kilogram bag of flour is currently retailing between Rs6,600 and Rs6,800, while a 20-kilogram bag is priced at Rs2,650 to Rs2,750. This persistent instability has further escalated the overall burden of inflation, compounding the difficulties already faced by low- and middle-income families.
Local residents and community representatives expressed deep concern, stating that skyrocketing inflation has already broken the backs of the common people, and now even a basic necessity like flour is slipping beyond the affordability of the average citizen. They criticized the lack of effective measures from the authorities, accusing the administration of silence that has allowed vendors to sell at exorbitant rates without restraint.
With the holy month of Ramazan approaching, there is no visible relief in sight from the rising costs. The poor and vulnerable segments of society are particularly hard-hit, as they struggle to secure enough flour for daily needs and preparations for the month of fasting.
Citizens have appealed to the government to take immediate and decisive action to bring down flour prices. They called for the introduction of an urgent relief package, along with concrete steps to control the costs of flour and other essential commodities. Such measures, they argued, are essential to provide genuine respite to the people and prevent further deterioration of living standards in the face of unchecked inflation.
The ongoing price surge in Quetta mirrors broader challenges in Balochistan, where supply constraints and other factors have driven flour costs higher than in many other parts of the country in recent weeks. Residents continue to urge swift intervention to stabilize the market and ensure fair access to this vital food item.
