Several nanbais arrested for selling underweight roti

PESHAWAR: The district administration on Sunday arrested several nanbais from different areas of the provincial capital for selling underweight roti.

A statement issued by the district administration said 59 nanbais were held for selling roti weighing less than the prescribed weight and selling tortilla in two different weights. It added that nanbais had been permitted to sell 115-gram roti for Rs 10 which was the rate fixed by the government. It warned that action would be taken against those found selling roti at Rs15.

The Nanbai Association in Peshawar observed a two-day strike last week after the flour crisis started in the country. The association had announced the strike to force the government to issue a new price list for nanbais. They had said the escalating price of the wheat flour and utilities had made it impossible for nanbais to continue the business. The nanbais reopened tandoors after successful talks with the district administration when both parties agreed to new price-list of the roti. The Nanbais Association had claimed that the government allowed them to sell 115-gram roti for Rs 10 and 170-gram roti for Rs 15. However, the district administration issued a notification that had no mention of the Rs 15-gram roti.

The officials of district administration inspected different localities in Peshawar on Sunday and arrested 59 nanbais for violating the terms of agreement which had been specified in the notification issued after the talks. Abdul Majeed Qureshi, general secretary of the Nanbais Association, told The News the association would never support those selling underweight roti. However, he added, they would hold talks with the administration tomorrow on the issue of the ban on selling the Rs 15 roti. He said the future line of action would be announced after the meeting.