Flour dealers report that prices have climbed by Rs15 to Rs20 per kilogram, pushing a 20kg bag of mixed flour to Rs1,800 and fine flour to Rs1,900.
Dealers blamed the hike on large-scale wheat hoarding, claiming that stockists are buying bulk quantities directly from farmers and storing them to engineer an artificial shortage. They cautioned that prices could increase further if the government fails to intervene promptly.
In Punjab, the situation is even more alarming. Wheat prices have surged by Rs300 in the past week alone, reaching Rs3,100 per 40kg, while overall costs have jumped nearly Rs1,000 per 40kg over the last month. Flour prices have also risen by about Rs500 per 20kg bag during this period.
The rapid escalation has triggered concern among both consumers and traders. Many attribute the volatility to the Punjab government’s sudden withdrawal from regulating the wheat market, a move critics say has emboldened hoarders and speculators to manipulate prices—intensifying inflationary pressures on staple foods.
