The Punjab Food Department has launched a province-wide crackdown against wheat speculation, hoarding, and overpricing while directing flour mills to strictly comply with officially notified flour rates in the open market.
According to official instructions issued to flour mills, the retail price of flour has been capped at Rs1,030 for a 10-kilogram bag and Rs2,060 for a 20-kilogram bag. Authorities warned that no flour mill would be allowed to sell flour above these rates, adding that strict departmental action would be taken against any mill found violating the government notification.
In a separate communication sent to all Deputy Directors Food (DDFCs) and District Food Controllers (DFCs), the department shared a list of individuals allegedly involved in speculative activities in the wheat market. The officials were instructed to immediately trace such individuals and investigate their role in creating artificial shortages, manipulating prices, exploiting farmers, and allegedly pressuring flour mills through black-market practices.
The Food Department directed district authorities to examine the records of suspected traders, including food grain licenses, stock registers, and Form-C documentation. Officials were also instructed to conduct inquiries under the Speculation Act and register FIRs wherever violations are confirmed. The department specifically ordered that CNIC numbers of accused individuals must be included in FIRs to ensure proper police records and legal tracking.
Authorities have further been empowered to seal offices and storage facilities of violators, cancel their food grain licenses, and permanently blacklist them to prevent the issuance of future wheat permits in any district. Officials were also asked to submit daily progress reports by 7pm regarding actions taken against suspected speculators.
The department emphasized that districts responsible for issuing wheat permits must ensure that permits allocated to flour mills are issued directly in the names of farmers. Officials said the step is aimed at protecting growers from middlemen and ensuring farmers receive the actual financial benefit of wheat procurement.
The crackdown comes at a time when wheat prices are witnessing significant volatility in international markets. Market sources claim global wheat prices have risen sharply from nearly $575 to $675 within a month, creating additional pressure on local supply chains and flour prices. Authorities fear that speculative activity inside the domestic market could further worsen the situation if strict monitoring is not enforced.
Punjab officials say the latest measures are intended to stabilize flour prices, protect consumers from artificial inflation, and curb profiteering in the wheat sector.
