Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz announced the reduction of the price of flour to Rs 5 per kilogram and roti to Rs 16. Subsequently, the Deputy Commissioners of all the districts have also issued notifications in this connection but so far, it has not been implemented anywhere in the province.
It seems that there is not any writ of the government in the province as the Nan Bai refused to accept the Chief Minister’s orders by saying that if the government would provide them natural gas or gas cylinder at reduced rates along with cheap flour, then they will sell roti at the price, which the CM has announced.
According to the announcement, the price of bread is fixed at Rs 16 and naan at 20 rupees. However, in the entire province, bread is still being sold at 20 and naan at 30 rupees.
In this connection the tandoor owners said that they would not comply with the orders of CM. in a statement issued by the President All Pakistan Naan Bai Association has said that they reject the notification issued by the district administration regarding these new prices.
He added that these prices are impossible because they are getting a sack of flour for Rs 2900. If the government would provide them cheap flour, then they will sell roti at Rs 16, otherwise, there will be no compromise from their side. In such a situation, they will have to reduce the weight of bread, and apart from that, there is no other option.
A tandoor owner said that they are getting fine flour, which are used to make naan, at old rates. In addition, instead of decreasing, the rate of LPG is increasing. “We have to pay rent, give staff salaries, fulfill other expenses, along with the announcement, provide us with cheap facilities as well. If the government provides us with cheap flour and cheap LPG, then we will provide cheap bread and naan, he added.”
The consumers said that if the government forcefully reduces the price of bread and naan, the tandoor owners will either reduce the weight of bread or start adulterating flour, which will harm the public.
As a matter of fact, the people have been fed up with the false announcement of the rulers which are made to just gain political advantage. These types of decisions which are never implemented but they are echoed in the media for a few days.
The reason for the tall but hollow claims by the governments is simple: the rulers have left the entire nation at the mercy of some cartels and the tandoor mafia is one of them. In return the local political workers of the ruling party get bribes from them on a monthly basis and convey the shares to the leadership so they cannot go against the interests of different mafias.
If the rulers take any decision in the interest of the public, once in the blue moon, then the corrupt activists in the political parties come into action and force the leadership not to implement the decision and the people would ultimately get silence, after making a hubbub for some days on the issue. In this manner, these mafias are sucking the blood of the general public.