Rs2 increase in ‘roti’ price

Source: http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=107458

Friday, April 18, 2008
Khalid Iqbal

Rawalpindi

After a sharp increase in ‘atta’ price by the government, ‘naanbais’ of Rawalpindi and Islamabad have raised ‘roti’ price to Rs5 from Rs3.

The decision to this effect was taken in a meeting of office-bearers of Rawalpindi-Islamabad ‘Naanbais’ Association here on Wednesday night. Muhammad Riaz Qureshi, chairman of the association, presided over the meeting.

‘Naanbais’ in People’s Colony, Dhamial Camp, Chaklala Scheme III, New Mohanpura, Satellite Town, Banni, Jamia Masjid Road, Golra, Pirwadhai, Gharibabad, Misrial Road, R A Bazaar and some other localities are selling ‘roti’ at Rs5 against its previous price of Rs3 and ‘naan’ at Rs6 against Rs4. Those selling ‘roti’ at Rs3 have reduced the weight of dough from 110 grams to 80 grams.

Muhammad Riaz Qureshi, chairman of the Rawalpindi-Islamabad ‘Naanbais’ Association, told ‘The News’ on Thursday that they would sell ‘roti’ for Rs5 and ‘naan’ at Rs6, ‘roghni naan’ at Rs10 against its previous price of Rs7 and ‘paratha’ at Rs10 against Rs7.

The Rawalpindi district administration has not issued a new price list even after a sharp increase in ‘atta’ price.

“We don’t want to violate rules and regulations. But nobody could afford to run a business in a loss so ‘naanbais’ increased prices of ‘roti’ and ‘naan’ on their own,” he added.

“We are getting a sack of 85 kilograms of fine quality ‘atta’ at Rs2,500 against its previous price of Rs1,670. The 80-kilogram sack of low quality ‘atta’ is now being sold for Rs1,600 against Rs1,130. The district government had promised us that we would get ‘atta’ at controlled rate. But now the situation has changed altogether and ‘naanbais’ have no option but to increase prices of ‘roti’ and ‘naan’,” he said.

“If the district administration tried to create any problem for ‘naanbais’ of Rawalpindi and Islamabad, they would close down their ‘tandoors’ for an indefinite period,” he warned.

District Price Control Committee Chairman Haji Jamal told ‘The News’ that it was logical for ‘naanbais’ to raise prices of ‘roti’ and ‘naan’ after increase in ‘atta’ price. The concerned authorities should have revised the rate of ‘roti’ and ‘naan’ after the alarming increase in ‘atta’ price. ‘Naanbais’ should contact the district administration for issuance of new price list, he said.

He said that concerned officers of the district administration are not in a position to take a decision or action against violations and waiting for directives. The new government is in the process of formation and its position would be cleared soon, he said.

Mushtaq Shah, a resident of Rawalpindi, told ‘The News’ that how would they survive when a ‘roti’ is being sold at Rs5. He said that ‘roti’ is the basic need of all and how one would survive without it. He said that he is a salesman in a private company and getting Rs10,000 per month.

Asma Khan, a social worker, said that the government is responsible for inflation in the country. She said that after February 18 general elections in the country, prices have been increased manifold. Petrol is being sold at Rs62.88 against Rs53.77 per litre, milk at Rs40 against Rs35, ‘atta’ at Rs375 to Rs400 against Rs310 for a twenty-kilogram bag and public transport fares have been raised to Rs8 against Rs6 stop-by-stop. The present government has shattered the dreams of masses who wanted some relief, she said.