Get ready for fresh breads at fresh prices! The municipal commissioner announced new prices for naan and chapati, with a strict warning against overcharging. PHOTO: JALAL QURESHI/EXPRES
RAWALPINDI:
The General Council of Pakistan Naanbai Association has announced that despite a record increase in prices of flour, fine flour, sesame, ghee, LPG cylinders, labor and tandoor rents in the history of the country, the current prices of roti and naan will be maintained till 30 Ramazan.
However, from the day of Eidul Fitr, the price of roti and naan will be increased by Rs5, while the prices of paratha and roghni naan will be increased by Rs10.
The association said the district administration has completely failed and become powerless to control the prices of flour, fine flour and materials used in preparing roti and naan.
The start of the new year 2026 broke the 78-year record of rising commodity prices. The general council meeting was attended by district, tehsil and city office members from Rawalpindi, Attock, Jhelum, Chakwal, Murree and Talagang districts.
The meeting was chaired by Central Chairman Shafiq Qureshi.
The central chairman informed that in the open market, the price of a 79 kg flour bag increased from Rs7,600 to Rs 11,700 before the new year, while the price of fine flour bag increased from Rs 8,200 to Rs 12,600 during the same period.
By 30 Ramazan, a further increase from Rs 1,700 to Rs 2,200 per bag is expected. The price of a commercial gas cylinder has reached Rs16,000. Labor costs for baking bread, kneading dough and making dough balls have gone up by Rs 500, while tandoor rents and electricity bills have multiplied.
He said the old prices of roti, naan and paratha have become unacceptable, but as Ramazan is the month of blessings, a unanimous decision was taken to maintain the prices during Ramazan. Prices will be increased either on Eid or after the three Eid holidays.
He added that despite requests being made repeatedly to the Food Controller, Deputy Commissioner and PML-N ministers, no relief has been provided. When magistrates visit them and are shown invoices reflecting rising material costs, they respond that it is not their problem and that roti prices cannot be increased, even suggesting closing the tandoors.
“We are exhausted. If challans or fines are imposed, all tandoors in Rawalpindi division will be closed first, followed by closure of entire Punjab,” the association warned.
