UMERKOT: Flour mill owners in Umerkot district have rejected the government-fixed price of Rs128 per kilogram, arguing that the sharp increase in wheat prices has pushed their production costs far above the officially notified rate. The millers said the prevailing wheat price in the open market had climbed to around Rs125 per kilogram, while additional expenses related to milling, labour, electricity, transportation and other operations had increased the overall cost of producing flour to nearly Rs140 per kilogram. They maintained that selling flour at Rs128 per kilogram was therefore commercially unsustainable and would force mill owners to operate at a loss. In this regard, representatives of the flour milling industry have submitted written applications to the Mirpurkhas commissioner and the Umerkot deputy commissioner, requesting authorities to reconsider the existing flour price and determine a new rate based on prevailing market conditions and production costs. The mill owners also raised objections to what they described as excessive administrative action against flour mills across the district. They specifically complained about raids and wheat seizures allegedly carried out by assistant commissioners in Umerkot, Kunri, Samaro and Pithoro. According to the millers, government policy allows flour mill owners to maintain wheat stocks of up to 850 bags per stone at their mills or designated warehouses. They alleged that despite the provision, local administrative officials had conducted raids on mills and storage facilities and seized wheat stocks. The mill owners termed the alleged seizures unjustified and said such actions were creating additional difficulties for an already financially pressured industry. They urged the authorities to ensure that enforcement measures were carried out strictly in accordance with the relevant government policy. The millers further called for an investigation into alleged irregularities involving food department inspectors. They demanded that senior provincial officials examine the complaints and take appropriate action if any wrongdoing is established. They appealed to the Sindh chief minister, provincial food secretary, Mirpurkhas commissioner, Umerkot deputy commissioner and other concerned authorities to intervene in the matter and review the officially fixed flour price. The mill owners argued that the price should be determined after taking into account the current cost of wheat as well as electricity, labour, transportation, maintenance and other expenses associated with flour production. They warned that continued enforcement of a price they consider economically unviable could increase financial losses for flour mills and put further pressure on the district’s milling industry. The millers said they were willing to cooperate with the administration in maintaining the availability of flour and preventing unjustified price increases, but stressed that any official pricing mechanism must reflect actual market and production costs. They also urged the provincial government to establish a transparent mechanism for monitoring wheat stocks and flour prices so that disputes between millers and local administrations could be resolved through clear rules rather than repeated raids and seizures.

The first trading session of August brought renewed optimism to the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX), where investors returned with aggressive buying, driving the benchmark KSE-100 Index sharply higher. The bullish momentum followed US President Donald Trump’s announcement regarding the commencement of talks with Iran, a development that boosted investor confidence and eased concerns over escalating geopolitical tensions. During early trading, the KSE-100 Index surged by 2,708 points, climbing to 178,802 points as buying activity intensified across several major sectors. Market participants attributed the rally to improved global sentiment, with hopes that diplomatic engagement between Washington and Tehran could reduce regional tensions and support international financial markets. Analysts said investors responded positively to the possibility of a more stable geopolitical environment, which could help stabilize global energy prices and encourage foreign investment in emerging markets, including Pakistan. Strong buying interest was witnessed in leading banking, energy, cement, and fertilizer stocks, contributing to the market’s upward trajectory. Despite the robust performance of the PSX, Asian equity markets presented a mixed picture. Japan’s benchmark Nikkei Index declined by 1.5 percent amid continued investor caution, while South Korea’s Kospi recorded a steeper fall of 5.25 percent, reflecting selling pressure in major technology and export-oriented shares. In contrast, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index remained in positive territory, posting a modest gain of 0.1 percent as investors welcomed signs of easing geopolitical uncertainty.