Flour crisis continues to bite consumers

The prices of ‘roti’ have become a complicated phenomenon in the twin cities as 'tandoor' owners are cashing in on the flour crisis to get financial benefits, leaving the consumers to think when will they get any relief from the government.

The flour crisis continues to bite the consumers who are paying Rs2 more on buying a ‘tandoori roti’ and Rs4 on ‘khameeri roti or naan’ with the 'tandoor' owners saying that they are just shifting financial burden to the consumers to meet their expenditures.

Sadiq, a 'tandoor' owner in New Katarian, said, “The companies selling bread increase its prices time and again but no action was taken against them or even they were not issued any kind of warning in this respect,” he said.

He said, “Our electricity and gas bills have increased manifold and now we are buying 120 kg flour bag at Rs5,400 that was available at Rs3,600 few weeks back. So how can we meet our expenditures if we are not allowed to increase price of ‘roti’.”

The local administration in Rawalpindi and Islamabad has set up control rooms to monitor prices of ‘roti’ but it seems not enough to provide any kind of relief to the consumers.

Adeel Ahmad, a resident of Pindora area, said they have to buy ‘rotis’ from 'tandoor' as low gas pressure in the peak hours never allow them to make them at home.

“Astonishingly, rate list is displayed at every 'tandoor' but it is not being followed anywhere in their locality. The ‘tandoori roti’ is being sold at Rs10 and ‘khameeri roti or naan’ at Rs14 in violation of the rate list,” he said.

He said the situation may turn from bad to worse so the government should take immediate measures to resolve the flour crisis as soon as possible.