Flour and Onion Price Hikes Add to Consumers' Woes in Karachi

Consumers in Karachi are facing a double blow as prices for both flour and onions have significantly increased, adding to their financial strain. Flour millers recently raised the price of a 50kg bag of various flour types by Rs250-275, pushing the cost to Rs7,200 for flour no. 2.5, Rs7,600 for maida, and Rs7,750 for fine flour. This increase follows a trend that saw prices for these staples at Rs5,600, Rs5,800, and Rs6,000 respectively at the end of April 2026.

As a direct consequence of the higher flour costs, various types of roti, including naan, sheermal, and taftaan, have seen price hikes of Rs5-10 per piece. Tandoor operators are now charging up to Rs35 for a naan, compared to Rs30 previously, and have increased sheermal and taftaan prices to Rs110 from Rs100. These increases defy official rates set by the Karachi commissioner in February, which ranged from Rs14 to Rs27 for different weights of chapati and tandoori naan.

Adding to the burden, onion prices have also climbed sharply. Consumers are now paying Rs150-180 per kilogram for onions, a significant jump from Rs110-150 per kg just a week prior. In late July, onions were available for Rs90-120 per kg. These price increases are occurring even as the country is set to receive one million tonnes of imported wheat, despite a reported 4.3 percent increase in domestic wheat production during FY26.

The national average price for a 20kg flour bag has also risen, ranging from Rs2,200-3,133 according to data from the week ending August 20, 2026. This situation highlights the ongoing inflationary pressures on essential food items in Pakistan, impacting household budgets across the country.