QUETTA: Balochistan is facing a worsening wheat supply crisis after government reserves were exhausted and delays in approved procurement left the province without official stocks, raising concerns over flour availability and prices.
Sources in the provincial Commodities Department said government wheat warehouses had run out of stock, while the purchase of fresh supplies had yet to begin despite approval from the provincial cabinet.
The cabinet had authorised the procurement of 575,000 bags of wheat from the Pakistan Agricultural Storage and Services Corporation (PASSCO). However, administrative delays have prevented the purchase from being completed, according to departmental sources.
The shortage has become particularly concerning as flour mill operators report difficulties securing wheat from both government warehouses and the open market.
The Flour Mills Association said wheat was unavailable in official storage facilities and the local open market, while restrictions on the interprovincial movement of wheat and flour from Punjab and Sindh had further complicated supplies to Balochistan.
With government reserves depleted and procurement stalled, flour mills face growing uncertainty over their ability to maintain production and meet consumer demand.
Market sources said a 20-kilogram bag of flour was selling for Rs3,260, reflecting the pressure on households already facing high food costs.
The situation has raised questions about the delay in implementing the cabinet’s procurement decision, particularly as the province depends on timely wheat supplies to maintain market availability.
The reported restrictions on wheat and flour transportation from neighbouring provinces have added another challenge, limiting alternative sources of supply at a time when official reserves are exhausted.
No timeline has been announced for the arrival of the approved wheat consignment from PASSCO.
The crisis has increased pressure on provincial authorities to expedite procurement and address supply constraints before shortages place further strain on flour prices and consumers.