Wheat prices have surged across Punjab and Islamabad over the last ten days, jumping by nearly 30 percent from Rs3,700 to as high as Rs4,800 per maund.
In southern Punjab, the rate in Multan has touched Rs4,450 per maund, while Bahawalpur and Dera Ghazi Khan are seeing prices close to Rs4,400. Islamabad has also recorded wheat at around Rs4,400 per maund.
Lahore has witnessed a rise to Rs4,450 per maund, along with growing shortages of flour bags in several areas. Traders report that 10 kg and 20 kg bags are becoming hard to find, while the price of a 15 kg bag has increased from Rs1,500 to Rs1,750.
In Gujranwala and Gujrat, wheat is selling for up to Rs4,500 per maund, while rates in Rawalpindi have peaked at Rs4,800.
Central Chairman of the Flour Mills Association, Asim Raza said the sharp hike is due to a widening shortage of wheat. He cautioned that stocks are depleting fast and added that the rising wheat cost is directly driving flour prices higher.