Pakistan is currently facing a severe shortage of wheat flour (atta). The stock of subsidized flour is over. Due to this, the government is making flour packets available at low cost to the public in different parts of the country. The shortage of flour is such that 4 people have lost their lives so far in the process of buying cheap flour.
Crowds of people gathered in Mirpur Khas district of Sindh province on Saturday after seeing the packets of flour brought on trucks by the Food Department. According to Pakistani media, several people were injured in the melee. A 35-year-old laborer was crushed by people. He died on the spot.
The situation is so bad that a stampede broke out while buying cheap flour outside a flour mill in Sakrand town of Shaheed Benazirabad district. This resulted in the death of three women. The condition is so bad that people are struggling even for a five kg sack.
The worst condition is being seen in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Here flour is being sold for 1000 to 1500 Pakistani rupees. In fact, the price of a 20 kg packet of flour has reached up to Rs 3100 in the open market. It was Rs 1,100 a year ago.
Meanwhile, people in Balochistan are fighting among themselves over the supply of wheat and flour. Many are even following trucks of flour on their motorcycles. Balochistan’s Food Minister Zamark Khan was also quoted as saying, “There is nothing in our coffers and we cannot provide any subsidy.” Many are blaming the administration for not stocking enough wheat last year.