The prices of flour have also risen in Peshawar, the price of 20kg flour bag has gone up by Rs300 in the last week, putting extra pressure on household budgets.
The price of a 20kg bag of mixed flour is now fixed at Rs2,900, while that of a 20kg bag of fine flour is now at Rs3,100, according to the Flour Dealers Association.
The shortage of flour has been caused due to the restriction of supplies to Punjab, as reported by the dealers, and if the situation continues, the price of flour may be further raised in the coming days.
Meanwhile, flour was selling at Rs135 to 140 per kg in Karachi, and the price of 10kg flour bag was around Rs1,350.
The government has set the official price of chakki flour at Rs113 per kg and fine flour at Rs121 per kg. The recent surge in flour prices has been blamed by flour mill owners on the rise in the price of wheat.
The prices of flour are still widely spread across the various cities, but the overall inflation of the prices is putting a financial strain on households, especially on low and middle income families, officials said.
However, consumers have voiced concerns regarding the price increase, as well as calling for efficient measures to be taken to reduce market volatility.
Pakistan’s weekly inflation rises as vegetable and chicken prices surge
Pakistan’s short-term inflation moved higher during the week ending June 18, driven mainly by a sharp increase in the prices of vegetables and poultry, according to the latest data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS).
The Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI), which measures weekly changes in the prices of essential goods, increased by 0.46 per cent compared to the previous week.
Among the biggest contributors to the rise were tomatoes, whose prices surged 16.65 per cent in just one week. Potatoes became 6.82 per cent more expensive, while chicken prices climbed 5.60 per cent. Consumers also faced higher costs for washing soap, gur, mutton, LPG, eggs, fresh milk and curd.
Also read: Flour prices to rise after hike in wheat rates in Karachi
