Costly flour: Price of wheat increases in city
Bakers demand permission to raise price of bread
PHOTO: REUTERS
PESHAWAR:
The price of wheat has increased in the open market in the city, causing unrest among bakers. On Friday, bakers expressed concerns regarding the situation and warned to hold a strike if the prices were not reduced.
Apparently in response to a decrease in supply, the price of wheat has increased by Rs250 per 85 kilogrammes, causing the price of fine flour to jump to Rs3,850 in the market across the city. It was at Rs3,600 a few days back.
The bakers believe the “shortage” is artificial and blamed hoarders for stockpiling wheat.
“If the flour prices are not decreased, we will be compelled to go on a strike starting March 1,” Gulzada Khan, the nanbai association president warned the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government.
He added, “If the price of flour cannot be reduced, we should be allowed to increase the price of bread from ten to twelve rupees.” He said the last rate list was given by the city administration in 2013, when the price of flour was Rs3,300.
Even though the price has increased now, nanbais said they are not being allowed to increase the price of bread. “We are being forced out of our businesses,” Gulzada complained.
In the past
In 2013, the nanbai association held a strike for several days in which they demanded an increase in the price of bread. As a result, the district administration agreed upon fixing the price of bread according to the demands of the bread association.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 30th, 2016.
The price of wheat has increased in the open market in the city, causing unrest among bakers. On Friday, bakers expressed concerns regarding the situation and warned to hold a strike if the prices were not reduced.
Apparently in response to a decrease in supply, the price of wheat has increased by Rs250 per 85 kilogrammes, causing the price of fine flour to jump to Rs3,850 in the market across the city. It was at Rs3,600 a few days back.
The bakers believe the “shortage” is artificial and blamed hoarders for stockpiling wheat.
“If the flour prices are not decreased, we will be compelled to go on a strike starting March 1,” Gulzada Khan, the nanbai association president warned the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government.
He added, “If the price of flour cannot be reduced, we should be allowed to increase the price of bread from ten to twelve rupees.” He said the last rate list was given by the city administration in 2013, when the price of flour was Rs3,300.
Even though the price has increased now, nanbais said they are not being allowed to increase the price of bread. “We are being forced out of our businesses,” Gulzada complained.
In the past
In 2013, the nanbai association held a strike for several days in which they demanded an increase in the price of bread. As a result, the district administration agreed upon fixing the price of bread according to the demands of the bread association.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 30th, 2016.