Bakers 'extort' cost hike from consumers - The Express Tribune
Tandoors across Lahore are charging more than officially notified prices for roti and naan. The price of roti has risen to Rs20 against the prescribed Rs17 and naan to Rs35 instead of Rs30, as rising flour, fuel, transportation and labour costs put pressure on both businesses and household budgets.
The increase sparked concerns about price controls on the staple food item, with consumers saying they were being forced to pay above notified rates while struggling with inflation.
The consumers said rising business costs should not leave them paying above the prices fixed by the government, calling for effective monitoring and action against overcharging alongside measures to bring down the cost of inputs.
"Every time we go to buy basic food items, the price seems to have gone up. Roti is a daily necessity and families cannot avoid buying it. If the government has fixed a rate, it should make sure that people are charged accordingly," said a Township resident, Adeen Ahmad.
Another resident, Usman Khan, said the difference between official rates and the prices charged had undermined confidence in the price-control system.
"Prices are announced, but ordinary people still pay more. Authorities should check what is happening at local tandoors instead of leaving consumers to deal with high prices on their own," he said.
Speaking to The Express Tribune on Wednesday, Mutihida Naan Roti Association Lahore District Senior Vice President Waheed Abbasi said the rising cost of production had made it difficult for the owners to continue selling bread at the existing rates.
He said the government's increase in wheat prices and discontinued availability of subsidised flour had pushed up the cost of the fine variety used to cook naan.
According to Abbasi, an 80-kilogramme bag of fine flour now costs Rs13,500, compared with Rs10,000 previously.
Fuel costs have added to the pressure. Abbasi said natural gas was unavailable to tandoors even in summer, forcing operators to rely on alternative fuels. Although the official consumer price of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) is Rs279 per kilogramme, he said it was being sold in the markets for Rs570 to Rs600 per kg.
The gap mirrors concerns raised by consumers and distributors over LPG prices in Lahore, where households have struggled to obtain the fuel at the regulated rate.
"In the present circumstances, it is impossible for tandoor owners to sell roti and naan at the old rates," the association leader said, urging the government to provide subsidised flour, rein in LPG prices or restore natural gas supplies to tandoors.
Another tandoor owner, Rahim, said the cost of flour had risen sharply. Previously, a 10kg bag of wheat flour was available for Rs1,100, while 15kg bags were now selling for Rs2,350, he said.
He added that higher petroleum prices had increased transportation expenses and pushed up labour charges. Naan, previously sold for Rs30, was now being sold for Rs35, while kulcha continued to sell for the same price.
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