Roti, naan and sheermal prices rise as input costs increase

KARACHI: Tandoor operators have increased the prices of several roti varieties, saying higher costs of flour, ghee, fresh milk and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) have made existing rates difficult to maintain.

In different parts of the city, consumers are being charged Rs2 to Rs10 more per piece for tandoori roti and sheermal, while chapati prices have also gone up by Rs5 per piece. The increases come despite official rates fixed recently by the Karachi commissioner for chapati and tandoori naan of different weights.

According to those official rates, chapati and tandoori naan weighing 120 grams, 140-150 grams and 180 grams were set at Rs14, Rs18, Rs21 and Rs27. However, consumers are rarely finding these notified prices being followed at tandoor outlets.

A large roti and nihari seller in North Nazimabad said he had raised the price by Rs5 to Rs30 after increasing the dough weight from 160 grams to 180 grams. In F.B. Area, roti sellers increased naan prices by Rs2 to Rs27 and raised sheermal rates by Rs10 to Rs90, without stating the weight.

A consumer in Gulistan-i-Jauhar said he had paid Rs5 extra for a naan, but believed the tandoor operator had reduced its weight. Some larger roti and sheermal outlets in the city have so far kept naan prices at Rs30 and sheermal at Rs90-100, while monitoring the situation as LPG prices decline but flour prices continue to rise.

Tandoor shops are also seeing more customers during zero gas hours in residential areas, particularly after 9:30pm. The recent decision by Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) to suspend gas supply mainly from 3pm to 6pm has further pushed consumers towards tandoor shops.

Flour, ghee and LPG costs cited

According to Sensitive Price Indicators (SPI) data for the week ending April 30, the price of a 20kg wheat flour bag rose to Rs2,300-2,500 from Rs2,000-2,400 in the second week of April. The 10kg wheat bag increased to Rs990 from Rs900, while fine atta rose to Rs135.94 from Rs128 over the same period.

Wheat prices had been expected to ease after the arrival of the Sindh crop in March and the Punjab crop in April, but that did not happen. At the same time, increases in flour, fresh milk and ghee prices have offset the effect of lower LPG rates.

All Sindh Tandoor Roti Association member Salman Mian said many tandoor owners had raised prices because they could no longer absorb the increase in flour, milk, ghee and packaging material costs.

“Confusion still prevails over future price of LPG amid uncertainty over the opening and closing of the Strait of Hormuz,” he said.

He said naan previously sold at Rs20 for 130-140 grams was now being sold at Rs25, while 180-gram naan had moved to Rs30 from Rs25. He added that tandoors selling sheermal at Rs80 and Rs90 were now charging Rs90 and Rs100, while kulcha and taftaan prices had also gone up by Rs10. He further said chapati priced at Rs20 should weigh 130-140 grams, but there is no weighing scale at shops to verify the weight of roti varieties.

Salman Mian said a 16kg ghee tin now costs Rs8,400-8,600 compared to Rs8,200 earlier, while plastic bag prices have also increased. He added that labourers were also seeking higher daily or monthly wages after the rise in roti prices.

He said LPG prices had fallen to Rs380-390 per kg from a peak of Rs470-480 per kg, while they had been Rs280-300 before the Middle East war. SPI data for the week ending April 30, 2026, showed that an 11.67kg cylinder now costs Rs4,435-4,668, compared to Rs3,384-3,501 before the Middle East war.