Flour prices jump Rs14 per kg as millers raise rates again
Flour prices up Rs14 per kg is the new reality for households this week: millers have raised the prices of various flour varieties by an average of Rs14 per kilogram over the past three days. Retailers accuse millers of suspending supply to engineer the price shock, while chakki flour has climbed to Rs210 per kilogram in retail markets.
Flour prices up Rs14: the new rates
Mill rates now stand at Rs155 per kg for flour No. 2.5, Rs167 for maida and Rs170 for fine flour. Open-market wheat has risen to Rs138 per kg, up from Rs125 to Rs130 earlier. In Lahore, private flour companies raised prices one after another, with a 5kg pack from one company reaching Rs1,035 after a Rs15 increase and another selling at Rs1,020, against the official 10kg rate of Rs1,100 and 20kg rate of Rs2,200.
Retailers blame millers
Retailers say millers deliberately held back supply to force prices up. Consumers in Lahore said the increases were placing a fresh burden on household budgets and urged the authorities to take notice and keep prices under control.
The gap between official rates and what private companies charge has also raised questions about price monitoring in the open market.
Tandoors pass the cost on
Tandoor owners have raised the price of naan by Rs5, taking it to Rs30 to Rs35. Roti prices may climb by another Rs5 to Rs10 if flour and LPG prices do not come down, bakers warn.
The bigger wheat picture
The latest hike fits a longer trend. A US Department of Agriculture report released on October 2 noted that Pakistan had approved the import of up to one million tonnes of wheat in 2026, its first significant purchase since 2024, after flour prices rose 13 per cent in four months and stood nearly 60 per cent higher in August than a year earlier.
The report blamed the volatility on a shift in wheat marketing policy: with provincial governments cutting back public procurement, farmers sold quickly to private traders after harvest, letting middlemen and hoarders concentrate stocks and push prices higher through unchecked speculation.
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FAQs
How much have flour prices increased?
Millers raised prices of various flour varieties by an average of Rs14 per kg over three days. Chakki flour now retails at Rs210 per kg.
Why are flour prices rising?
Millers point to costlier wheat, now Rs138 per kg in the open market. Retailers allege millers suspended supply to engineer the hike. A USDA report also blames reduced public procurement, which left stocks in the hands of private traders and hoarders.
Will roti and naan get more expensive?
Naan is already up Rs5 to Rs30-35 at tandoors. Bakers say roti could rise another Rs5 to Rs10 if flour and LPG prices stay high.
