Islamabad, September 18, 2025 – Pakistan is once again in the grip of a severe economic and social crisis, this time over the most basic staple food — flour. What should have been an affordable necessity for every household has now turned into a luxury item, with prices shooting up to Rs 140 per kg and a 20-kg flour sack being sold at almost Rs 2,800 in some provinces. For millions of ordinary Pakistanis, roti — the essential bread on their plates — is disappearing.
Punjab at the Center of the Storm
The heart of this Pakistan crisis lies in Punjab, the country’s largest wheat-producing province, which contributes nearly 80 percent of the nation’s total wheat output. Currently, the movement of wheat and flour from Punjab to other provinces has come under strict restrictions. While the Punjab government denies any official ban, ground realities paint a different picture.
Truckloads of wheat and flour are reportedly being halted at checkpoints, and several consignments have been seized. This disruption has choked supply lines to Sindh, Balochistan, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, leaving flour mills and markets in those regions scrambling for stock.
Constitutional Concerns and Rising Resentment
The situation has triggered sharp political and constitutional debates. Leaders in Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa argue that Punjab’s actions violate Article 151 of Pakistan’s Constitution, which guarantees free trade across provincial boundaries.
The All Pakistan Flour Mills Association has declared the restrictions “unconstitutional and dangerous for national unity.” Sindh authorities have raised alarms about deliberate hoarding, while Governor Faisal Karim Kundi of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa labeled the move as a blatant breach of national solidarity. The provincial assembly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa even passed a condemnation resolution, underscoring the depth of frustration.
Burden of Inflation on the People
Already crushed under relentless inflation and a weak economy, the public is now bearing the brunt of skyrocketing food prices. In Punjab, a 20-kg flour sack is priced at around Rs 1,800, but in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the same sack sells for Rs 2,800, reflecting an almost 68 percent increase.
For daily wage earners and low-income households, this price hike is devastating. Families that once relied on affordable bread are now forced to cut down consumption or look for alternatives. Street protests, public anger, and criticism of government mismanagement are spreading rapidly across the country.
Flour vs. Food Prices in India
The comparison with neighboring India highlights the severity of the crisis. In India, wholesale flour prices hover around Rs 2,900 per quintal (100 kg), translating to just Rs 29 per kg. In contrast, Pakistani consumers are paying nearly five times more per kilo, a staggering difference that underscores both supply chain disruptions and deep-rooted structural issues in Pakistan’s economy.
Pulses: Another Blow to Households
As if flour prices were not enough, Pakistanis are also grappling with unprecedented hikes in the cost of pulses, another essential source of nutrition. According to Zarea.pk, prices of key pulses are soaring:
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Gram dal – Rs 360 per kg
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Masoor dal (lentil) – Rs 360 per kg
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Moong dal – Rs 510 per kg
With pulses and flour both out of reach, the nutritional crisis is worsening. For many families, balanced meals have become impossible, pushing millions towards food insecurity.
A Brewing National Crisis
The flour shortage is not just about food — it symbolizes the deeper economic malaise gripping Pakistan. Years of mismanagement, political instability, and reliance on imports have left the country vulnerable. The Punjab wheat restrictions have only exposed the fragile ties binding the federation together.
As experts warn, if corrective measures are not taken swiftly — such as restoring inter-provincial trade, stabilizing supplies, and offering subsidies — the Pakistan crisis could escalate into mass unrest. For now, the rising cry across the nation is clear: bread, the simplest staple, has become a luxury.
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