Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has expressed anger over the sharp rise in flour prices across the province, ARY News reported.
She called an emergency video-link meeting and ordered that cheap flour and wheat be provided to the people at all costs.
The provincial government also decided to increase the official wheat quota for flour mills and raise the wheat supply rate to Rs3,800 per maund.
Maryam Nawaz approved a Rs10 billion subsidy to keep flour affordable in the province.
She said the rising prices of flour and wheat were a serious concern and described the burden of inflation on the people of Punjab as extremely painful.
The chief minister said all available resources would be used to transport subsidized flour and added that the supply of affordable flour and roti would continue.
The decision comes as flour prices have surged across Pakistan, with the price of a 20-kilogram bag rising by up to Rs400 in one week, according to a report.
The report said the price of a 20kg bag has reached Rs3,400 in Karachi, Peshawar and Islamabad.
In Rawalpindi, the price rose by Rs347 to Rs3,333, while in Sialkot it increased by Rs333 to Rs3,133.
In Multan, the price went up by Rs66 to Rs2,866. However, prices remained unchanged in Lahore, where a 20kg bag continued to sell for Rs2,300, and in Faisalabad, where it stayed at Rs2,200.
In Sukkur, a 20kg bag became Rs300 more expensive and is now being sold at Rs3,060. In Hyderabad, the price rose by Rs200 to Rs3,200.
Quetta also recorded an increase of Rs70, taking the price of a 20kg flour bag to Rs3,030.
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