Peshawar ( Khyber Point) The provincial capital witnessed another steep rise in flour prices on Saturday, with the cost of a 20-kilogram fine flour bag soaring to Rs. 2,750. The surge marks a Rs. 150 jump within just a single day, sparking concerns of further increases in the coming weeks.
According to the Flour Dealers Association, the price hike affected both fine and mixed flour categories. Fine flour rose by Rs. 150 per 20kg bag, while mixed flour saw a Rs. 100 increase. As a result, the price of fine flour has climbed from Rs. 2,600 to Rs. 2,750, while mixed flour has gone from Rs. 2,500 to Rs. 2,600.
Dealers attribute the sharp rise to supply shortages, market speculation, and hoarding by influential groups. The latest surge adds pressure on households already struggling with inflation across essential commodities.
Meanwhile, data from the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics shows that the national average price for a 20kg flour bag has now reached Rs. 2,500. However, residents of Peshawar and Bannu face the steepest rates in the country, with flour selling well above the national average.
Local consumers expressed frustration over the sudden rise. “We can’t manage household expenses anymore. Every day the price changes,” said a Peshawar resident, standing in line outside a flour shop.
Economists warn that continued instability in flour prices could trigger a chain reaction, pushing up costs of other basic food items like bread and roti, directly impacting low- and middle-income families.
As the crisis deepens, flour dealers are calling for government intervention to stabilize supply chains and curb profiteering. Without immediate action, experts fear flour prices may climb further, worsening the burden on already strained consumers.
