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Flour Prices Soar in Quetta Ahead of Ramazan, Residents Demand Action

Flour prices in Quetta have surged to between Rs 6600-6800 for a 50kg bag, placing immense strain on low and middle-income households. Residents report stagnant wages forcing families to cut consumption, borrow money, or rely on relatives as food bills climb. With the holy month of Ramazan approaching, a period of traditionally higher food consumption, vulnerable citizens fear being unable to afford basic staples. Community leaders blame weak enforcement for unchecked profiteering and are demanding immediate government intervention through subsidies and market inspections.

Key Points: Quetta Flour Prices Skyrocket, Residents Seek Relief

  • 50kg flour bag costs Rs 6600-6800
  • Residents forced to reduce consumption or borrow
  • Weak enforcement blamed for profiteering
  • Ramazan poses added financial threat
  • Calls for subsidies and market inspections
2 min read

Pakistan: Flour prices skyrocket in Quetta, residents demand relief

Flour prices surge in Quetta, Balochistan, causing hardship ahead of Ramazan. Residents demand government subsidies and action against profiteering.

"earnings have remained stagnant while food bills climb relentlessly - The Express Tribune"

Balochistan Februar, y 16

Flour rates in Quetta continue to defy expectations of a slowdown, piling fresh misery onto households already buckling under record inflation. Surveys show that the commodity, central to nearly every meal, is steadily drifting further from the grasp of ordinary buyers.

Traders in different parts of the city are selling a 50-kilogram bag for roughly Rs 6600 to Rs. 6800, while a smaller 20-kilogram pack is going for Rs 2650 to Rs 2750. Residents say the figures would have been unthinkable just a short while ago, yet authorities appear unable or unwilling to reverse the trend, as reported by The Express Tribune.

According to The Express Tribune, people from low and middle-income neighbourhoods describe a daily calculation of what to forgo. Many stated that earnings have remained stagnant while food bills climb relentlessly, forcing families to reduce consumption, borrow, or depend on relatives. Community elders argue that weak enforcement has emboldened retailers, who continue to revise prices upward with little fear of accountability. The anxiety is sharper because Ramazan is around the corner. Traditionally a period of higher food use, the month now looms as an added financial test. Vulnerable residents fear they may not be able to store even the minimum quantity of flour required for sehri and iftar.

Citizens are pressing for immediate intervention, calling for subsidies, tighter inspections, and penalties against profiteering. Without swift action, they warn, the credibility of official promises about relief will erode further, and hardship will deepen, as cited by The Express Tribune.

The situation in Quetta mirrors wider strains across Balochistan, where transportation bottlenecks and supply complications have kept prices elevated compared with other provinces. For many families, patience has run out; what they seek now is visible, practical relief rather than assurances, as reported by The Express Tribune.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Rs 6600 for a 50kg bag is shocking! It shows a complete failure of supply chain management and price control. In India, our PDS system, despite flaws, at least provides some cushion for the poor. Hope the authorities in Quetta find a solution soon. No one should have to choose between meals.
R
Rohit P
The article mentions weak enforcement emboldening retailers. That's a universal problem. We see it here with onions and tomatoes sometimes. Corruption in the food supply chain hurts the poorest the most. Strong, transparent mechanisms are needed everywhere.
S
Sarah B
It's a humanitarian issue beyond borders. When staple food becomes unaffordable, it destabilizes society. I hope international aid agencies are looking at this, especially for Balochistan. The focus should be on getting affordable flour to people, not politics.
V
Vikram M
While I sympathize with the residents, we must also look at our own house. Our inflation is also pinching the middle class. We should learn from such reports and ensure our food security systems are robust. Jai Kisan! Our farmers and supply chains need constant support.
K
Karthik V
The timing before Ramazan makes it a double crisis. Iftar and Sehri are sacred times. It's the duty of any responsible administration to ensure food security for its citizens, regardless of religion. This is a basic governance failure. Hope relief comes quickly.

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