Flour (atta) prices have increased sharply in Islamabad, with a 20-kilogram bag now costing up to Rs 3,400, adding to the financial burden on households already struggling with rising inflation.
According to the latest report from the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), the price of a 20kg flour bag increased by as much as Rs 400 in different parts of the country during the past week.
Islamabad, Karachi and Peshawar are among the cities where a 20kg bag of flour is now being sold for up to Rs 3,400.
Flour prices also increased in Rawalpindi, where a 20kg bag became Rs 347 more expensive, reaching Rs 3,333. In Sialkot, the price rose by Rs 333 to Rs 3,133.
The PBS report showed that weekly inflation increased by 0.57%, while the annual inflation rate reached 11.97%.
During the past week, prices of 20 essential items increased, six items became cheaper, and 25 remained unchanged.
Flour recorded a weekly price increase of 5.69%, followed by chicken at 4.93%, gram pulses at 3.99%, and tomatoes at 2.40%. Petrol, lentils, tea and LPG also became more expensive.
In other cities, a 20kg flour bag reached Rs 3,060 in Sukkur, Rs 3,200 in Hyderabad, Rs 3,030 in Quetta and Rs 2,866 in Multan.
However, flour prices remained unchanged in Lahore and Faisalabad, where a 20kg bag was available for Rs 2,300 and Rs 2,200, respectively.
Meanwhile, some essential items became cheaper during the week. Banana prices fell by 2.81%, diesel by 1.37%, potatoes by 0.89%, and sugar by 0.37%.
