Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has approved a Rs10 billion subsidy to keep flour affordable across the province, stepping in after a sharp rise in wheat and atta prices. The decision came at an emergency meeting held via video link on Saturday, October 10, 2026, where the chief minister expressed strong displeasure over increasing flour prices.
Alongside the subsidy, the meeting decided to increase the quota of subsidised government wheat supplied to flour mills at Rs3,800 per maund, so that mills keep producing affordable flour without interruption.
Punjab Flour Subsidy 2026 — Key Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Approved by | CM Punjab Maryam Nawaz |
| Subsidy amount | Rs10 billion (as announced) |
| Meeting date | October 10, 2026 (video link) |
| Subsidised wheat rate for mills | Rs3,800 per maund (40 kg) |
| Official 10kg bag rate (govt wheat) | Rs1,100 (per Food Department) |
| Reason | Rising wheat/flour prices, concern over artificial price hikes |
Note: the Rs10 billion figure and the Rs3,800 rate were announced at the meeting; a written notification had not been traced by the evening of October 10. Treat these as announced decisions.
Why Flour Prices Rose
Wheat prices in Punjab’s open market climbed to about Rs5,200 per 40 kg after rising roughly Rs400 in just four days, according to market reports. The Pakistan Bureau of Statistics recorded a 5.69% jump in flour prices in a single week.
City-wise, a 20kg flour bag reached Rs3,400 in Karachi, Peshawar and Islamabad, rose by Rs347 to Rs3,333 in Rawalpindi and by Rs333 to Rs3,133 in Sialkot, while Multan stood at Rs2,866. Prices stayed unchanged in Lahore (Rs2,300) and Faisalabad (Rs2,200) — close to the controlled rate. The meeting voiced concern over what it described as artificial increases in market prices of wheat and flour.
What It Means for Households
The chief minister directed the authorities to ensure wheat and flour remain available at affordable rates “under all circumstances” and reaffirmed that the supply of affordable flour and low-cost roti would continue. Calling the burden of inflation on Punjab’s people “extremely painful,” she said all available resources would be used to protect the public from rising prices.
For households, the practical expectation is that flour milled from government wheat keeps selling at the official rate — the Food Department’s stated rate for a 10kg bag is Rs1,100 — while the increased mill quota should ease the supply pressure that pushed open-market prices up. How exactly the Rs10 billion will be routed, and the effective date of the new arrangements, had not been detailed in the announcements; that detail is awaited.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How much subsidy has Punjab approved for flour?
Rs10 billion, approved by CM Maryam Nawaz at the October 10, 2026 emergency meeting.
Q: At what rate will flour mills get government wheat?
At the subsidised rate of Rs3,800 per maund (40 kg), with an increased quota for mills.
Q: Why did flour prices increase?
Open-market wheat rose about Rs400 in four days to roughly Rs5,200 per 40 kg, and PBS recorded a 5.69% weekly flour price jump. The government also flagged artificial price increases in the market.
Q: What is the official price of a 10kg atta bag?
Rs1,100 for flour milled from government wheat, according to the Punjab Food Department.
Q: Will sasti roti continue?
Yes — the chief minister reaffirmed that affordable flour and low-cost roti supply would continue.
Q: When will the subsidy take effect?
An exact effective date had not been announced; the decisions were announced at the October 10 meeting and implementation detail is awaited.
Final Thoughts
The Rs10 billion subsidy is the Punjab government’s biggest recent move to shield households from the flour price spike. If the increased wheat quota reaches mills quickly and the official Rs1,100 rate for the 10kg bag holds in the market, families should feel relief soon. Watch for the formal notification and the market response in the coming days — that will show whether the announced relief turns into real relief at the shop counter.