Nanbais weigh shutter-down strike

The Pakistan Nanbai Association has convened a joint convention of all nanbai organisations and tandoor owners of Rawalpindi division at Liaquat Bagh to decide on a complete shutter-down strike or an independent increase in roti, naan and paratha prices, following a sharp rise in flour prices.

Association President Shafiq Qureshi said the price of a 79-kg bag of red flour had been increased from Rs9,100 to Rs11,350, while fine flour and maida bags rose from Rs10,000 to Rs12,500. The price of a 20-kg flour bag increased from Rs2,800 to Rs3,000, while a 15-kg bag rose from Rs2,200 to Rs2,350.

He said tandoor quotas were already insufficient and flour prices had been increased twice within a week, making it impossible to sell bread at old rates.

The association demanded that the DC either allow an increase in roti prices in line with flour rates or restore flour prices to previous levels.