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Bread becomes more expensive in Lahore

Sabir Shah Hoti • October 18, 2026 • Business

Bread (roti), previously sold for Rs17 in Lahore, is now being sold for Rs20 following a price increase of Rs3. Residents said that along with the price hike, the weight of the dough portion used to prepare each roti has also been reduced.

Tandoor owners said the price of flour as well as bags of fine flour (maida) has increased. 

They added that flour prices are rising every week, leaving them with little choice but to increase the price of roti. Tandoor owners also complained about the lack of gas supply, saying they are forced to operate their ovens using gas cylinders.

The increase in roti prices has added to the financial burden on consumers, while tandoor owners attribute the higher prices to rising flour costs and difficulties in obtaining gas.

Weekly inflation rises as flour, chicken prices climb

Pakistan’s short-term inflation rose by 0.57 per cent in the week, with wheat flour, chicken and pulses among the items that became more expensive, according to official data released on Friday.

The Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI), which tracks the prices of essential goods, increased 11.97 per cent compared with the same week last year, adding to the pressure on household budgets.

Data from the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) showed that wheat flour prices rose 5.69 per cent during the week, while chicken became 4.93 per cent more expensive. Gram pulses recorded a 3.99 per cent increase, while petrol and tomatoes each rose 2.40 per cent.

Prices also increased for masoor pulses by 1.29 per cent, prepared tea by 1.08 per cent, cooked daal by 0.98 per cent and mash pulses by 0.91 per cent. Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) prices went up 0.57 per cent.

However, some items became cheaper. Banana prices fell 2.81 per cent, while diesel declined 1.37 per cent. Potato prices dropped 0.89 per cent, sugar fell 0.37 per cent, and gur, or unrefined sugar, became 0.19 per cent cheaper. Moong pulses recorded a marginal decline of 0.03 per cent.

Of the 51 essential items monitored by the PBS, prices of 20 increased during the week, while six fell. The remaining 25 items recorded no change.