Flour prices in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have increased again following restrictions and disruptions in the interprovincial transportation of wheat and flour from Punjab.
According to market data, the price of a 20-kilogram flour bag has increased from Rs. 2,200 to Rs. 2,400 within a week.
The Flour Mills Association said flour mills in KP are being forced to purchase wheat at higher prices due to disruptions in wheat and flour supplies from Punjab, resulting in higher retail flour prices in the market.
Industry officials said the flour industry in KP heavily depends on wheat supplied from Punjab.
The province produces around 1.2 million metric tons of wheat annually against a total requirement of nearly 5.2 million metric tons, creating a shortfall of around 4 million metric tons that is usually met through purchases from Punjab.
The latest increase comes amid broader inflationary pressure on essential food items, with prices of flour, sugar, and several other commodities rising in recent weeks.
The KP government has reportedly written letters to the federal government and the Punjab government demanding removal of restrictions on wheat transportation from Punjab. Industry representatives warn that continued supply disruptions could further increase flour prices and intensify pressure on consumers already struggling with rising food costs.
This is precisely why there is no notion of a united Pakistan. Punjab rules.