KARACHI: Prices of essential commodities are showing a mixed trend a week before Ramazan unlike the same period of last year when most items had shot up beyond the reach of the common man.

Flour has seen one of the most notable declines thanks to huge wheat imports by the private sector.

A survey of prices based on the Sensitive Price Index (SPI) this week revealed a substantial drop in a 20kg wheat flour bag to Rs1,635-2,100 from Rs2,500-2,960, followed by a fall in fine flour rate to Rs109 per kg from Rs156 as a result of drop in wheat prices.

A 10kg wheat bag is now available for Rs792, while it cost Rs1,240 in the lead-up to Ramazan last year. However, consumers have not seen any price relief in prices of Roti and bakery items thanks to the authorities’ indifference.

The price of sugar rate has gone up to Rs150-165 per kg from Rs138-163. But the government has now persuaded millers to sell the sweetener at Rs130 per kg.

Consumers yet to see relief in roti rates despite big decline in wholesale wheat flour price

The country exported 757,597 tonnes ($407m) of the........

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