Shutter-down strike worsens bread crisis

Residents of Rawalpindi district had to face a great deal of inconvenience after a complete shutter-down strike of tandoor owners and Naanbai halted the sale across the district.

The strike was observed on the appeal of the Naanbai Association which threatened to extend the strike to across Islamabad on Sunday if their demands were not accepted by Saturday.

A majority of citizens proceeded to their offices without breakfast yesterday, while others including students bought bread, juice and rusks from the bakeries to make their breakfast. Similarly, food stall owners also prepared bread at home.

The roti and naan were sold at high prices at tandoors which were open in the suburbs of the city. The district administration didn’t take any action.

Naanbai of both Rawalpindi and Islamabad are protesting against the increase in the prices of electricity, flour and gas cylinders and against the sealing of tandoors for not selling cheap bread and registration of cases. Taking advantage of the strike, the bakery owners jacked up the prices of juices and bread.

According to Shafiq Qureshi, the president of the Naanbai Association, the floor price has increased by Rs1,700 per sack since July 1. “The flour mills went on strike and the government accepted all their demands as a result of which the flour mills increased the price of flour,” he said, adding they couldn’t buy expensive flour and sell cheap bread. The strike would continue until the price of bread increases, Qureshi made it clear.

He said that the association was ready for negotiations and would present the increased prices of flour, electricity and gas before the Deputy Commissioner (DC). “If the cost of one piece of bread is reduced with Rs9,500 per sack of flour with all the expenses, we are ready for this reduction,” Qureshi further said, adding the DC should set the price fairly by extracting the labour of employees working at tandoor, cost of flour, electricity, gas, cylinder, gas, oven and rent.

He, however, made it clear that the association would no longer agree to forced price reductions, suggesting the government provide cheap flour to all tandoors on direct subsidy and reduction of electricity and gas tariff.

“There are around 22,000 tandoors in the Rawalpindi district out of which 99% are completely closed. If our demands aren’t accepted, all tandoors will be completely closed from tomorrow (Sunday).