Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has ordered a ban on the sale of 20-kilogram wheat flour bags across the province, directing that only 10kg bags be available in the market.

She issued the directive while chairing a special meeting in Lahore on Friday to review fluctuations in the prices of essential commodities. All commissioners and deputy commissioners attended the meeting via video link.

During the meeting, the chief minister received a detailed briefing on price trends and the availability of essential food items.

Maryam Nawaz also directed authorities to strengthen monitoring at inter-provincial borders to curb wheat smuggling.

She instructed all deputy commissioners to meet wheat cultivation targets and ensure that government-owned land is used for wheat farming.

Under the ‘Numberdar’, ‘Mare-rearing’ and ‘Own Farm, Own Livelihood’ schemes, wheat will be cultivated on all designated land, she said.

The chief minister also ordered effective measures to regulate the sale of loose milk in line with hygiene and safety standards.

Separately, she directed authorities to ensure the availability of bananas, apples and dates at controlled prices during the holy month of Ramadan.

“Every deputy commissioner will ensure storage of bananas, apples, and dates in cold storage as per requirements in their respective areas,” she added.

On the other hand, residents of Karachi are paying the highest flour prices in the country, with the price of a 20-kilogram bag increasing by Rs140 to reach Rs3,540, according to Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) data.

The data shows that flour prices have also increased in several other cities, putting additional pressure on household budgets amid rising living costs.

In Faisalabad, the price of a 20kg bag of flour has surged by Rs800 to Rs3,000, while in Khuzdar, it has increased by Rs400 to Rs3,400. In Larkana, the price has risen by Rs300 to Rs3,200, while Hyderabad has recorded an increase of Rs280, taking the price to Rs3,480.

In Quetta, a 20kg bag of flour has become Rs190 more expensive, reaching Rs3,220. In Sukkur, the price has increased by Rs140 to Rs3,200. In other cities, a 20kg bag of flour is priced at Rs2,933 in Sargodha. In Multan, the price has risen by Rs66 to Rs2,933, while in Bahawalpur, it has increased by Rs40 to Rs3,000.

In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a 20kg bag of flour is being sold for Rs3,300 in Peshawar and Rs3,200 in Bannu. Meanwhile, in Islamabad, the price of a 20kg bag has reached as high as Rs3,373, while it stands at Rs3,333 in Rawalpindi.

In Punjab, a 20kg bag of flour is available for Rs3,000 in Gujranwala, Rs3,133 in Sialkot and up to Rs2,300 in Lahore. The latest figures highlight significant differences in flour prices across the country, with Karachi, Hyderabad and Khuzdar among the cities reporting particularly high rates.