Flour PKR 2800, Onion PKR 220, chicken PKR 700: Pakistan Food Inflation Explained

Amidst the economic crisis, Pakistan's food crisis or let' say Pakistan wheat crisis has been put the Islamic nation in chaos.

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Pakistan's economic crisis has been worsening day by day and the common people are on the streets fighting each other to buy essential commodities. Amidst the economic crisis, Pakistan's food crisis or let' say Pakistan wheat crisis has been put the Islamic nation in chaos. Protests, skirmishes, and even incidents of violence have been reported across the neighbouring country, which has struggled to import wheat flour in order to meet its internal shortage. In Pakistan, the price of chicken rose from PKR 300 last month to about PKR 700 this month, onion is being sold at PRK 220 per kg, and the worst affected is flour (atta) i.e. 20 KG sack of flour is being sold at PKR 2800. There are multiple reasons behind Pakistan's food inflation. Notably, reports suggest that the prices of common commodities in Pakistan is expected to skyrocket even more. The current wheat flour crisis in Pakistan is triggered primarily by incorrect estimates by the Punjab and Sindh governments in the country. According to estimates projected by local media reports, Pakistan needs 4 lakh sacks of wheat in order to meet its immediate internal demand. The debt-struck country is importing wheat from Russia in order to meet the deficit.

Pakistan's common commodities and their current selling price

Onion- PKR 220 /KG

Chicken- PKR 700/KG

Wheat atta- PKR 160/KG

Oil- PKR 160/KG

Rice- PKR 480-488/ KG

Beans- PKR 145/158.95

Tomato- PKR 122/KG

Eggs- PKR 400/ Crate

Mutton- PKR 1100/ KG

Desi Ghee- 1800-2500/ KG

Countries using cross-border terrorism should be held accountable: India

Pakistan food inflation reasons

As per Pakistani media reports, the major reasons behind Pakistan's explosive food inflation is the flood. Pakistan floods washed away a large part of minor crops, including vegetables, pulses, and oilseeds. Pakistan was already facing a wheat crisis and delays in the decision to import the commodity have already led to several increases in wheat flour, which has made all flour-based products, including naan, roti and bakery bread, costlier. Reports further quoted farmers union of Pakistan saying that the country may not achieve the production target of 28.4 million tonnes due to various reasons, including a reduction in the area of sowings and growers’ inability to take care of the upcoming crop amidst rising costs of energy and fertiliser and other inputs. Prices of fertiliser scaled several new heights in 2022, reflecting the global trend, and it is highly unlikely that these prices will decline substantially in the first two quarters of 2023, even if international prices remain stable.

Furthermore, the electricity crisis has continued in the winter and it has led to the early closure of markets, shopping centres and wedding halls. At the root of the gas and electricity crises sit a growing pile of circular debt of the energy sector that will take years to reduce in size., reported Dawn. The shortage of electricity, coupled with the higher cost of fuel oil (compared to what it was a year ago), is also adding to the cost of production, transportation, marketing, and marketing of food and non-food items and is fueling overall consumer inflation.

Chaos in Pakistan over food inflation

There are multiple videos of Pakistan have ben emerging showing how the people are facing the trouble of food inflation. Amidst inflation and struggle with the food crisis in the country, a video of a man is seen pushing other people in open sewage while the authorities distribute 'Atta' or wheat flour to people amid the crisis. In a video going viral over social media platforms, a man is seen pushing another man into an open sewage to make way to get flour and then he is seen turning aound and trying to push another man. He then pushed another man into sewage on his way out of the crowded place.

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