KARACHI: Although the arrival of imported wheat has brought down prices in the open market, consumers continue to pay high prices for different varieties of flour and Roti.
On Oct 28, when the first ship carrying 51,000 tonnes of wheat berthed at the port, wheat prices in the open market plunged to Rs130 from Rs140 per kilogram. Another ship carrying 58,132 tonnes is due at Karachi today (Tuesday).
Wheat prices in the open market started fluctuating in the open market after arrival of the imported grain. Market stakeholders quoted different rates.
According to wholesalers, the average price stood at Rs132 per kg, while millers say that rates hovered between Rs136 and Rs137 per kg.
Millers had raised the prices of different varieties of flour by Rs20 per kg, but later brought down prices ahead of the arrival of imported wheat.
A miller claimed that all the mills had reduced prices on Oct 28, two days ahead of the ship’s arrival. The latest mill prices of flour No 2.5, Maida and fine flour are Rs156, Rs168 and Rs171, respectively, while the rates during the first week of October were Rs161, Rs173 and Rs176, respectively.
No relief for consumer
But consumers have yet to get any relief as the rates for Chapati, Naan, Sheermal/Taftaan and Qulcha remain unchanged at Rs20, Rs30-35, Rs100-110 and Rs90-100, respectively.
A tandoor owner said the high price of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) (Rs500-550 per kg) has offset the impact of reduction in flour prices. “It will be hard to sustain our operations in case LPG prices go up further,” he said.
Likewise, the retail rates for flour No 2.5 and Maida remained unchanged at Rs170-180 and Rs185-190, while fine flour sold Rs185-190 per kg.
Rauf Ibrahim, a wholesaler, said the regulator has been unable to check inflated retail rates despite a dip in the open market.
He said the import of 750,000 tonnes of wheat will turn out to be insufficient as the country needs over two million tonnes to bridge the demand and supply gap as the new crops from Sindh and Punjab will arrive only between March and May.
Ibrahim urged the government to allow the private sector and flour millers to import grain in order to stabilise flour prices.
He said the lives of workers earning below Rs50,000 have become miserable since they have to spend almost the entire income on putting food on the table, leaving little for their children’s education and other needs.
Disparity in prices
Consumers living in Karachi and Hyderabad are paying the highest prices for flour varieties compared to other cities across the country.
As per the Sensitive Price Index (SPI) ending Oct 29, a 20kg flour bag in Karachi costs up to Rs3,540 while its average price in other parts of the country is Rs3,200.
Hyderabad holds the second spot where the price of a 20kg bag ranges between Rs3,360 and Rs3,400. In Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore and other major Punjab cities, prices ranged between Rs2,200 and Rs3,333.
Wheat rates
Sukkur is much ahead in terms of wheat rates as a 10kg bag sells for Rs1,488, while Peshawar holds the second spot with a rate of Rs1,469.
The third highest rate of Rs1,453 prevails in Hyderabad. In Karachi the 10kg bag is available at Rs1,440. In Islamabad and Rawalpindi, the average price is Rs1,453.
The lowest rate for a 10kg bag is in Sargodha with Rs1,223, followed by Bahawalpur with Rs1,266 and Rs1,300 in Faisalabad and Sialkot.
Fine Atta
Consumers in Hyderabad and Quetta are paying the highest rate of Rs187 per kg, followed by Rs185 per kg being paid by the people of Karachi.
The third highest rate of Rs183 per kg prevails in Islamabad. In other cities, the average price of one kilogram of fine flour ranged between Rs147 and Rs180 per kg.
A flour miller said that one of the reasons for high prices in Karachi is that the city is not a wheat-growing area and is dependent on the arrival of grain from the rest of Sindh.
Published in Dawn, November 3rd, 2026
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