KARACHI: The upward trend in flour prices has intensified across Pakistan, underscoring the country’s recurring struggle with ad hoc agricultural policies that continue to leave consumers exposed to inflationary shocks.
According to the Bureau of Statistics, the price of a 20‑kilogram bag of flour rose by up to Rs100 in several cities during the past week.
The steepest hikes were recorded in Karachi and Larkana, where prices climbed to Rs3,000 and Rs2,600 respectively. Islamabad remains the costliest city for flour buyers, with the maximum price reaching Rs3,133 per bag, followed closely by Peshawar at Rs3,100 and Rawalpindi at Rs3,093.
Other urban centers also reported sharp increases: Bahawalpur at Rs2,960, Bannu at Rs2,950, Hyderabad, Multan, Sialkot and Gujranwala at Rs2,800, Sargodha at Rs2,793, and Quetta at Rs2,750.
Sukkur saw a weekly rise of Rs60, while Bannu recorded an increase of Rs50. In contrast, Lahore and Faisalabad remained relatively lower, with flour bags priced at Rs2,300 and Rs2,200 respectively.
Officials attribute the variation in prices to local demand, supply constraints, and delivery costs. However, the broader crisis is rooted in structural failures.
As highlighted in recent federal‑provincial meetings, Punjab and Sindh — the country’s food baskets — have struggled to procure wheat from farmers this season, while Punjab has been unable to trace nearly four million tonnes believed to be hoarded.
Sindh Food Minister Makhdoom Mehboob‑uz‑Zaman has already opposed federal plans to import wheat, warning that such measures would harm local farmers. He pointed out that Punjab holds a surplus of seven million tonnes but has restricted inter‑provincial movement, leaving Sindh with a shortage of about one million tonnes.
The widening gap between production, procurement, and consumer prices reflects Pakistan’s paradox as an agrarian economy still dependent on short‑term fixes.
With flour now crossing Rs3,000 in major cities, households face mounting pressure, and the absence of coherent policy continues to turn each harvest season into a crisis rather than a solution.
