*MNBA president says roti being sold for Rs 10 in all other cities except Lahore for past one year
Lahore Muttahida Naan Bai Association (MNBA) has issued a notification for increase in prices of naan, roti and khameeri roti without prior notification from the district government, Pakistan Today has learnt.
Before Eidul Fitr, the district government had fixed the price of roti at Rs 6 but 10,000 tanoors across Lahore continued to sell naan and khameeri roti at higher prices and now MNBA has officially issued a notification of rise in prices of roti, khameeri roti and naan.
Speaking to Pakistan Today, MNBA Lahore President Aftab Gul said naan and khameeri roti is being sold for Rs 10 in other cities of Punjab for the past one year and now the association has been compelled to increase the prices in Lahore as well due to the rise in costs of inputs.
“The prices of gas, electricity, plastic bags, fine flour and sesame seeds have increased and the daily wage of the labourer who makes roti is Rs 700 to Rs 800; so selling roti below Rs 10 is not feasible,” he said.
The association’s president said that when gas is not available, the tanoors have to use firewood which is an expensive alternative. He said that the association is selling roti at the rates fixed by the District Coordination Officer (DCO) but added that the DCO is not empowered to fix prices of naan and khameeri roti.
He invited the government to talk to MNBA representatives. “We do not want to burden the poor masses but unless the government provides us relief, we cannot recover our costs without raising prices.”
DCO TAKES NOTICE:
Food District Officer Chaudhry Muhammad Ayub told Pakistan Today that the DCO has taken notice of the notification issued by MNBA.
He warned that if the association’s decision is not reverted, tanoor owners will be fined and their shops would be sealed.
“There is no authenticity in the union’s claim that tanoor owners cannot meet the costs incurred by selling roti at the government–stipulated price,” the officer said, adding that tanoor owners get a profit of about Rs 1.35 by selling roti for Rs 6 and naan for Rs 8- the government-stipulated prices.
Speaking to Pakistan Today, citizen Zulfikar lamented that Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif’s “Sasti Roti” scheme, on which millions were spent, has come to nothing.
“How can a labourer earning Rs 200 a day buy roti for Rs 10?”
“Sharif’s promises that roti would be available to the masses at Rs 2 have not materialised,” said Zulfikar, adding that it is the masses’ fault who voted for the “corrupt rulers”.
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