ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s sugar market hit a grim milestone this week as retail prices crossed Rs200 per kilogram in Peshawar, the highest in the country, according to fresh data from the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS).
The surge makes Peshawar the costliest city for sugar buyers, with prices jumping by Rs5 per kg in just one week. Karachi followed with Rs195 per kg, while Quetta recorded Rs192 and Islamabad, along with Punjab cities, capped at Rs190.
Unofficially, sugar prices had already crossed Rs200 in recent months, but this is the first time the federal government’s official record has acknowledged that prices touched Rs200, along with Rs195 in other cities.
Nationwide, the average sugar price now stands at Rs183.89 per kg—a marginal dip of just five paisas from last week’s Rs183.94. Compared to a year ago, however, prices are up steeply from Rs137.51, highlighting the strain on household budgets amid persistent food inflation.
The “double century” in Peshawar underscores how regional disparities in supply and distribution are driving sharp variations across cities. Despite claims of tighter monitoring, sugar prices continue to spiral, fuelling frustration among consumers already burdened by record-high grocery bills.