Pakistan: Flour prices surge amid wheat hoarding, market deregulation in Punjab

Flour prices have sharply increased across the city, with a 20-kilogram bag now costing up to Rs300 more, sparking concern among consumers and traders.

According to local flour dealers, the price of flour has risen by Rs15 to Rs20 per kilogram. A 20kg bag of mixed flour is now being sold for Rs1,800, while fine flour has climbed to Rs1,900.

Dealers blamed the price hike on large-scale wheat hoarding, alleging that stockists have purchased bulk quantities directly from farmers and stored them to create an artificial shortage. They cautioned that flour prices may rise even further if hoarding continues and government intervention is delayed.

Meanwhile, wheat and flour prices in Punjab have been rising at an alarming pace. Wheat prices surged by Rs300 in just the past week to Rs3,100 per 40kg (maund), while overall costs have climbed by nearly Rs1,000 per 40kg over the past month. Flour prices, correspondingly, have increased by around Rs500 per 20kg bag in the same period.

The sudden hikes have been linked to the Punjab government’s recent withdrawal from regulating the wheat market, a move critics argue has opened the door for hoarders and speculators to manipulate prices. This has added to inflationary pressure on staple foods, further straining household budgets across the province.

Tags: prices, wheat, flour