Tandoors reopen as flour crisis eases

District administration sets up sale points for govt-subsidised flour

PESHAWAR: The crisis in the province surrounding a shortage of flour ebbed on Wednesday after the district administrations across the province set up sale points for flour at the government-subsidized rate of Rs800 for a 20-kilogramme bag. Further, tandoors reopened in the province.

The Peshawar district administration on Wednesday said that they have set up as many as 268 sale points in the provincial capital alone while similar points have been set up by the respective district administrations in northern, southern and Mardan divisions.

Flour crisis has been easing in the province after ample supplies form the Punjab, measures from the provincial government by establishing selling points across the province and district food department has only established 268 selling and collections points in the provincial capital.

Officials further said that the government has also put up the government-determined price of flour in the province, instructing deputy commissioners, and commissioners to ensure that flour is sold at the government-mandated price in the market.

Moreover, to facilitate and ensure a steady supply of flour to flatbread ovens, he said that the government has further reduced the price of flour for an 85-kilogramme bag of flour by Rs200.

Ovens reopen

After a two-day strike, flatbread ovens reopened in the province on Wednesday after successful talks between the district administration and the Naanbai Association.

The bread makers had staged a three-day strike demanding that the government increase the official prices of 115 grammes flatbread from Rs10 to Rs15 in open market. However, they were convinced otherwise during negations with senior officials of district administration late on Tuesday where the government offered to further subsidise flour. 

Published in The Express Tribune, January 23^rd, 2020.