Pakistan's economic situation has become so bad that people have been stampeding for the free flour the government is giving out, with tragic results.

At least five people have died in Punjab Province and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province while trying to collect the free flour. Several others have been injured.

Local media say people have become unruly, and there's been bad management and organization at the distribution sites.

Thousands of people rush to the distribution centers daily, as wheat is a staple in the Pakistani diet.

A woman who got the free flour at a distribution site in Islamabad said: "One bag is not enough for a family for 12 days. Now what should we do? Where should we go?"

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced the flour program for millions of needy families during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan that started last week.

The price of essential goods has been rising in the country, with flour up over 45 percent in the past year. Pakistan's falling currency is making the inflation problem even worse.

Islamabad has been trying to negotiate with the International Monetary Fund to proceed with a 6.5 billion-dollar loan program. But no deal has been reached so far.