After sugar prices spiked earlier this month, consumers in Pakistan are now facing another blow to their household budgets — a sharp rise in the cost of flour and roti.
For millions of families, especially those from low- and middle-income groups, this increase directly affects their daily meals, as bread is considered to be the most essential staple on dining tables.
Tandoor operators have increased the price of roti by an average of rupees 2 per piece in Karachi. What may look like a small adjustment on paper has a heavy impact on the labour class and daily wage earners, who often eat at local eateries because they are unable to afford to cook full meals at home.
A naan that recently cost Rs 22-23 is now being sold at Rs 25, while chapati prices have jumped from Rs 11-12 to Rs 14-15.
The situation arises from a surge in flour prices, which have skyrocketed over the past month. A 5kg bag of fine flour that cost Rs 500 on August 1 is now retailing at around Rupees 700.
Similarly, the price of a 50kg bag of fine atta has increased by nearly Rs 1,900 within a month, now standing at Rs 5,700 compared to Rs 3,800 just weeks earlier.
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Retailers keep on suggesting that large-scale hoarders and investors are playing a role in this crisis, holding on to old wheat stocks in anticipation of higher profits.
As per the words of Salman Mian Araieen of the All Sindh Sheermal Tandoor Roti Association, many tandoor owners are struggling to strike a balance between staying in business and keeping their products affordable.
Some are even considering discontinuing the smaller Rs 20 naan altogether, as the price no longer covers their costs. Meanwhile, despite the flour hike, items like sheermal and taftan remain steady at Rs 70-90, though sellers warn that an increase of Rs 10 per piece may soon become unavoidable.
For consumers, these rising costs are forcing complicated choices — from minimizing portion sizes to skipping certain meals altogether. With flour prices at their highest in 72 weeks, ordinary Pakistanis keep on fearing that the humble roti may soon turn a luxury rather than a basic necessity.