Fears of a Karachi flour shortage grew after flour mill and chakki owners rejected commissioner-notified retail prices, saying high wheat costs make the official rates unworkable.
The commissioner fixed regular flour at Rs125 per kilogram, fine flour at Rs135 per kilogram and chakki flour at Rs145 per kilogram, according to the notification.
Open-market prices remain higher. Regular flour is selling between Rs145 and Rs150 per kilogram, fine flour between Rs160 and Rs170, and chakki flour around Rs170 per kilogram.
Read: Flour Price Hike Pushes Private Rates To Rs200 Per Kg
The Flour Mills and Chakki Owners Association said wheat prices in the open market are too high for producers to sell flour at the notified rates.
The association warned that strict enforcement of official prices could create a severe flour shortage under current market conditions.
The dispute has added pressure on consumers in Karachi, where retail flour prices already exceed the government-notified levels.
