Flour and Onion Prices Surge in Karachi

Flour and onion rates have climbed sharply in Karachi, adding to pressure on consumers as the country prepares for the arrival of 1 million tonnes of imported wheat and faces reservations over the availability of local supplies.

Key points

• According to Sensitive Cost Index data for the week ending August 20, the national average rate of a 20 kilogram flour bag ranged from Rs.
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• When the same 50 kilogram bags were available at Rs, the latest rates are significantly higher than those recorded at the end of April.
• Karachi flour millers have raised rates of a 50 kilogram bag of flour No.

Karachi flour millers have raised rates of a 50 kilogram bag of flour No. 2.5, maida and fine flour to Rs. 7, 200, Rs. 7, 600 and Rs. 7, 750, respectively. The increases range from Rs. 250 to Rs. 275 per bag and were attributed to higher wheat rates in the open market.

When the same 50 kilogram bags were available at Rs, the latest rates are significantly higher than those recorded at the end of April. 5, 600, Rs. 5, 800 and Rs. 6, 000, respectively. Higher flour costs have additionally pushed up costs at tandoors, with some operators charging Rs. 35 for naan compared with Rs. 30 previously. IPPs Are Making Home Electricity Particularly Unaffordable.

Rates of sheermal and taftaan have additionally rose to Rs. 110 from Rs. 100 per piece at some sizeable tandoors. Other operators have raised naan rates from Rs. 25 to Rs. 30 and sheermal rates from Rs. 90 to Rs. 100. These increases have come despite official rates set by the Karachi commissioner in February for different weights of chapati and tandoori naan.

Flour rates have climbed throughout Pakistan as well. According to Sensitive Cost Index data for the week ending August 20, the national average rate of a 20 kilogram flour bag ranged from Rs. 2, 200 to Rs. While a 10 kilogram wheat bag averaged Rs, 3, 133. 1, 236 and fine flour cost Rs. 153 per kilogram. At the end of March, the corresponding rates were Rs. 1, 810 to Rs. 2, 740, Rs. 1, 039 and Rs. 137.

For context, the wheat supply situation remains a concern despite Pakistan producing 29.61 million tonnes of wheat in fiscal year 2026, an growth of 4.3 percent, according to the Economic Survey.

In practice, the Trading Corporation of Pakistan has been tasked with importing 1 million tonnes, but the Karachi Wholesalers Grocers Association has argued that this will not be sufficient.

Onions have additionally become more expensive in Karachi. Retail rates have risen to Rs. 150 to Rs. 180 per kilogram, depending on size, from Rs. 110 to Rs. 150 a week earlier and Rs. 90 to Rs. 120 in the last week of July.

While Sindh's new crop is projected to reach markets by the end of September or in October, vegetable market representatives remarked Balochistan is at present supplying most of the country.

While only small quantities of lower quality onions are arriving from Iran, imports from Afghanistan, which previously supported cover supply gaps, have remained suspended. Stay Connected with ProPakistani.

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For now, flour and Onion Prices Surge in Karachi remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.