Peshawar Faces Rs20 Flour Spike as Supply Disruption Bites

A sudden spike in flour prices has hit Peshawar, with the retail rate now standing at Rs120 per kilogram—up from Rs100 just days ago—adding further pressure on household budgets.

The increase, reported on Thursday, is being attributed to a supply bottleneck caused by the Punjab government’s restriction on sending flour to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Flour dealers also pointed to wheat hoarding by the grain mafia as a major factor behind the surge.

The local dealers have urged the KP government to open immediate dialogue with Punjab to lift the restriction. They also called for strict action against hoarders to curb market manipulation and prevent further hikes.

With no corrective measures yet in sight, residents brace for continued inflation in essential food items.