Karachi Bread Prices Surge by 8-9% Amid Soaring Costs
The price of bread in Karachi has increased by eight to nine percent due to rising costs of power, gas, raw materials, and transportation. The manufacturers raised prices in April for the first time in three years, citing similar reasons. The new prices are as follows: large plain bread now costs Rs270, medium Rs200, and small Rs140, compared to earlier prices of Rs240, Rs180, and Rs130 respectively. Bran bread's price has been increased to Rs200 from Rs180, while the school bun remains at Rs25.
The packet of four burger buns is now sold at Rs140 instead of Rs130. Rusks' small and large packets have surged in price to Rs100 and Rs180 from Rs90 and Rs170 respectively. The flour price has been on the rise for months, with a national average price of a 20kg flour bag ranging between Rs2,200-3,200, a 10kg wheat bag at Rs1,250, and one kg fine flour at Rs155 as compared to Rs1,810-2,740, Rs1,039, and Rs137 in March.
Traders and retailers have criticized the government for not taking measures to arrest the rising trend of prices due to soaring wheat prices in the open market. The Trading Corporation of Pakistan has invited bids to import 750,000 tonnes of wheat to overcome the grain shortage in the country.