Flour prices have surged sharply in several cities across Pakistan, including Peshawar and Quetta, adding to public concerns over rising food costs.
In Peshawar, flour prices have continued their upward trend. Within just a few days, the price of a 20-kilogram bag has increased by Rs200, reaching Rs2,650. In retail markets, flour is now being sold for as much as Rs140 per kilogram after a Rs10 hike. Dealers have blamed the price increase on restrictions imposed on the supply of flour from Punjab to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
To stabilise prices, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government is expected to discuss the release of wheat from official warehouses to flour mills at the next provincial cabinet meeting.
Quetta has also seen another rise in flour prices. A 20-kilogram bag has gone up by Rs200 to Rs2,500, while the price of a 50-kilogram bag has increased by Rs500, reaching Rs6,250.
Traders in Quetta said dwindling government wheat stocks, combined with district-level supply restrictions imposed by the Punjab government, have pushed prices higher. The Balochistan Food Department has stated that the responsibility for purchasing wheat now lies with the private sector.
