The flour crisis in Lahore has deepened, with the price of a 20kg bag rising sharply from Rs. 1,350 to Rs. 1,810.
According to reports, flour prices have seen a dramatic increase over the past three weeks. By the end of July, a 20kg bag of flour was available for Rs. 1,350, but the official price has now been set at Rs. 1,810. Similarly, the 10kg bag has gone up from Rs. 850 to Rs. 1,100.
Both 10kg and 20kg flour bags have largely disappeared from markets. In response, retailers have started selling 15kg bags at inflated rates, with some demanding as much as Rs. 1,750. Shopkeepers cite rising wheat prices and supply shortages as the primary reasons behind the crisis.
According to sources from the Flour Mills Association, the price of wheat per maund (40kg) has surged from Rs. 2,300 to Rs. 3,000 — and even at this rate, wheat is reportedly unavailable in the market. The sources warned that if the situation continues, flour supply could come to a complete halt.
Last week, flour millers have raised concerns about rising flour prices, accusing the Punjab government of artificially creating a wheat and flour crisis by imposing a ban under Section 144 on the inter-provincial movement of wheat and related products.
