Pakistan Bread Prices Surge Up to Nine Percent Amid Rising Costs

Prices of bread and other bakery items have increased by as much as eight to nine percent in Karachi, Pakistan. This is the second price hike this year for these essential commodities, citing rising costs of power, gas, raw materials, and transportation.

The prices of large, medium, and small plain bread have been raised to Rs270, Rs200, and Rs140 respectively, up from Rs240, Rs180, and Rs130. Bran bread now costs Rs200 compared to Rs180 previously, while the price of school buns remains unchanged at Rs25.

The cost of a packet of four burger buns has also increased to Rs140 from Rs130, with small and large packets of rusks rising to Rs100 and Rs180 from Rs90 and Rs170. The national average price of flour continues to rise, with 20kg bags costing between Rs2,200-3,200, 10kg wheat bags at Rs1,250, and fine flour at Rs155.

Traders and retailers attribute the rising prices of flour to soaring wheat prices in the open market. They claim that the government has failed to take decisive action to stabilize the market, despite announcing plans to import one million tonnes of grain.