The flour price in Lahore has shot up by Rs833 in a single week, with a 20kg bag now selling for Rs3,133 in the Punjab capital, according to Pakistan Bureau of Statistics data.
The weekly surge is the sharpest among major cities. Larkana recorded a weekly increase of Rs100, taking the price of a 20kg bag to Rs3,300. Karachi remained the most expensive city for flour, with a bag selling for Rs3,540.
The national average price of a 20kg flour bag rose by Rs29 during the week to Rs2,976, the PBS data showed.
Flour price in Lahore rises while other cities see relief
The Lahore spike stands out because prices fell in several other cities during the same week. Islamabad recorded a weekly decrease of Rs40, bringing the price of a 20kg bag to Rs3,333. In Hyderabad, the price fell by Rs80 to Rs3,400, while Sukkur saw a similar decline to Rs3,120.
In Bahawalpur, flour prices dropped by Rs53 to Rs2,946. Sargodha recorded the largest decline among the listed cities, with the price of a 20kg bag falling by Rs133 to Rs2,800.
Flour prices remained unchanged in several cities during the week. A 20kg bag continued to sell for Rs3,333 in Rawalpindi and Rs3,000 in both Gujranwala and Faisalabad. Prices also stayed stable at Rs3,133 in Sialkot, Rs2,933 in Multan and Rs3,300 in Peshawar, according to the PBS documents.
What is driving the increase
Flour prices track the wheat market closely, and the staple has been under pressure for months. Earlier this month, the government moved to release wheat stocks to stabilise supplies, as reported in K-P releases 4,000 tonnes of wheat for flour supply.
The prime minister has also set an indicative wheat price of Rs4,500 per maund for the 2027 crop, a policy step aimed at giving growers a clear price signal ahead of the sowing season. Wheat support prices remain a politically sensitive subject, with farmer groups staging demonstrations over support prices earlier this year.
For households in Lahore, the increase bites directly. Flour is the single largest food expense for most families, and the Rs833 weekly jump comes at a time when food inflation is already straining budgets. The pressure on kitchen budgets was also visible recently when naan prices in Lahore were raised to Rs35, pushing up the cost of the staple flatbread sold at tandoors across the city.
Rural households are feeling a parallel squeeze from the other side. In the tobacco belt, farmers have been forced to sell their crop at lower prices, showing how farm-gate prices and retail food prices are moving in opposite directions. The World Bank has meanwhile warned that inflation risks remain, projecting inflation at 8.2 per cent for FY27.
Frequently asked questions
What is the current flour price in Lahore?
A 20kg flour bag in Lahore costs Rs3,133 after rising Rs833 in one week, according to Pakistan Bureau of Statistics data.
Which city has the most expensive flour in Pakistan?
Karachi remains the most expensive city, with a 20kg bag selling for Rs3,540. Islamabad follows at Rs3,333.
What is the national average flour price?
The national average price of a 20kg flour bag rose by Rs29 during the week to Rs2,976.
Why are flour prices rising?
Flour prices follow wheat market trends. Supply tightness, hoarding concerns and support-price politics have kept the staple under pressure, prompting the government to release wheat stocks and set an indicative price of Rs4,500 per maund for the 2027 crop.
