Nanbais announce roti price hike

Citing a substantial increase in the prices of wheat and fine flour in a week, the Pakistan Nanbai Association has announced to hike prices of roti, naan and paratha from July 20.

Shafiq Qureshi, the central president of the Pakistan Nanbai Association, announced that from July 20, the red flour roti with an increase of Rs5 will sell at Rs25, khamiri roti at Rs30, naan at Rs35 and paratha will sell at Rs60 each.

He said: “In just one week, the prices of a bag of red flour has been increased to Rs12,450, a bag of fine flour to Rs12,900 and a bag of superfine flour has been increased to Rs12,950.”

“The prices are expected to increase by another Rs200 to Rs500 per sack in the next week,” he added.

“The district administration, price magistrates and food department have completely failed to control the prices of flour, electricity, natural and cylinder gas while tandoor rents have also increased by 40 per cent.”

He went on to say that if the trend of increase in wheat prices continued, the association would be forced to further increase the prices of roti and naan in the next month. “The new taxes have destroyed our businesses,” he lamented.

Meanwhile, a joint meeting of the association and tandoor owners has been called on Friday to review the ongoing situation and decide on a new course of action.

“After the increase in the price of roti and naan, if any action is taken against any tandoor, there will be a complete shutter-down strike,” he warned.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 12^th, 2023.