Flour Prices Soar After Floods, Citizens Struggle

Recent floods have caused a new wave of inflation in Pakistan, with sharp increases in wheat, flour, and vegetable prices. Citizens are struggling to afford basic food items as costs rise rapidly.

The price of a 20-kg flour bag has jumped by Rs410 in one month, reaching Rs1,810. In Sindh’s Sanghar district, flour that was sold for Rs80 per kg is now Rs125, making bread unaffordable for many families.

Wheat prices have also surged by Rs700 per maund, from Rs2,300 to Rs3,000. Officials warn that flood damage to wheat crops could worsen shortages in the coming weeks.

To control the crisis, the Punjab government has:

• Banned feed mills from using wheat for 30 days.

• Ordered raids on warehouses to stop hoarding.

In Kasur and Faisalabad, authorities recovered 18,700 sacks of hoarded wheat during overnight operations.

Floods and rains have also hit vegetables hard. Prices have skyrocketed across major cities:

• Tomatoes: from Rs50 to Rs220 per kg in Jhelum, and up to Rs300 per kg in Islamabad’s wholesale markets.

• Potatoes, onions, cabbage, and bitter gourd: up by 150% in Sadar Sabzi Mandi.

Shopkeepers say supply shortages are the main reason for the spike.

Low-income households are the hardest hit, with many saying they can no longer afford two meals a day. Citizens are urging authorities to take urgent steps to stabilize prices and restore supplies of basic food items.