Pakistan is going through a bad period. Flour prices in the country have been increasing in the last few weeks. All flour records were broken in Karachi and other parts of the country. In Karachi, Pakistan, for the first time, a 20 kilogram bag of rice flour was sold for 3,200 Pakistani rupees. So 1 kg of flour costs 320 rupees.
In this case, it can be said that people here can buy the “most expensive” flour in the world. The people of Pakistan suffered the most from the increase in prices. People can buy flour from the state.
How deep is the flour crisis in Pakistan?
It is reported that rice flour in Karachi is higher than in Islamabad and Punjab. In Karachi, a 20kg bag of rice flour went from Rs 200 to Rs 3,200. Meanwhile in Hyderabad, a 20kg bag sold for Rs 3,040 after an increase of Rs 140. In Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Sialkot and Khuzdar, the price of a 20kg bag rose from Rs 106, Rs 133, Rs 200 and Rs 300. each one.
The price of 20 kg sacks of flour in Bahawalpur, Multan, Sukkur and Quetta increased by Rs 146, Rs 93, Rs 120 and Rs 100 respectively.
It was previously reported that the price of sugar across Pakistan reached a record high of Rs 160 per kilogram due to the rise in inflation.
Sugar prices also increased
According to the news, this situation is not limited to flour. The situation in China is similar. Sugar is sold in the local market at Rs 150 per kg. Meanwhile, the price of sugar in the market has reached Rs 137 per kg, which is currently Rs 132 per kg. Meanwhile, the selling price of sugar rose to Rs 150 in many parts of the country like Karachi, Islamabad and Rawalpindi on 13th July.
Amid Inflation, People In Karachi Buying "Most Expensive" Flour: Reporthttps://t.co/lILtFKkarv
— Shafi Uddinraees (@SUddinraees) July 16, 2023
What is the reason for the crisis?
Pakistan’s central and provincial governments blamed each other for the crisis. At the same time, experts believe that the causes of the crisis are the Russia-Ukraine war, the great floods in 2022 and theft of rice from Afghanistan. Rice prices rose sharply in the states of Sindh and Balochistan, where crops were damaged by flooding. According to the Planning Commission of Pakistan, the floods caused US$3.725 billion in damage to agriculture and agro-related activities.
Grain smuggling in Afghanistan is also a major contributor to the famine. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa borders Porus with Afghanistan. People smuggle rice to neighboring countries to earn more money.
Pakistan imports rice mainly from Russia and Ukraine for its consumption. In 2020 Pakistan exported $1 worth of rice.
$1 billion, according to the Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC). The most valuable grain came from Ukraine with 496 million dollars and from Russia with 394 million dollars.