LAHORE: The Punjab government has further increased price of wheat release and 20kg flour bag by Rs 40 per maund and Rs 20 per bag respectively.

Secretary Food Punjab, Irfan Elahi told Geo News correspondent, Amin Hafeez that new wheat release price is Rs 730 per 40 kg while the retail price of 20 kg bag is fixed at Rs 420. However, the price of Roti will remain unchanged at Rs 2. Before Eid the Punjab government has fixed wheat release price at Rs 690 per maund and flour price at Rs 400 per bag. However, after federal government's decision of substantial increase in wheat procurement price the Punjab government was compelled to increase the price.

Elahi said that Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has increased wheat release price from government godowns after fixation of high minimum procurement price by the federal government at Rs 950 per maund.

He said that if the Punjab kept the prices of flour at current level then it would hurt the other provinces and also increase the pilferage of both wheat and flour.

He said a subsidy of Rs. 1.6 billion was given during the Holy month of Ramazan by the Punjab government. Secretary Food said that increase in the price of flour would automatically reduce the chances of wheat and flour smuggling. He mentioned that the chief minister has decided to keep the price of Roti at current level.