Flour prices have risen sharply across Pakistan over the past week, with the price of a 20kg bag increasing by as much as Rs200 in several cities, according to official data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics.

The data showed Karachi remained the most expensive city for flour, where a 20kg bag was being sold for up to Rs2,500, the highest rate in the country. Lahore recorded the lowest price at around Rs1,810 per bag.

Among major weekly increases, Hyderabad and Larkana saw the steepest rise, with prices up by Rs200 per bag. Sargodha followed with an increase of Rs190, while Sukkur recorded a jump of Rs160.

In Multan, flour prices rose by Rs133.33 during the week. Karachi and Khuzdar each posted increases of up to Rs100, while Quetta saw a rise of Rs90. Islamabad recorded an increase of Rs67, Gujranwala Rs66 and Rawalpindi Rs40.

Prices in several other cities also remained elevated. A 20kg flour bag was priced at Rs2,450 in Quetta, Rs2,440 in Hyderabad, Rs2,373 in Islamabad and Rs2,350 in Peshawar. In Bannu and Khuzdar, the same bag was selling for around Rs2,300.

Rawalpindi recorded a price of Rs2,347, while flour was selling for Rs2,250 in Faisalabad and Rs2,200 in both Sukkur and Larkana. Gujranwala, Multan and Sialkot each reported prices of Rs2,133, while Bahawalpur stood at Rs2,067 and Sargodha at Rs2,000.