Naan issue.

Byline: Asha'ar Rehman

THE current leaders of the various naanbai associations in Pakistan have displayed an unprecedented determination in holding off the official negotiators comprising the deputy commissioners and other government officers otherwise known to ensure the state's writ in everyday affairs. Or this is the message the hungry masses get from the reports about 'unsuccessful' talks between roti and naan makers and the official side that has been trying to keep prices of the favourite staple within reasonable limits.

It has been going on for perhaps a year now? Maybe more if memory serves one right. The price has been on the rise and in accordance with the old formula, the roti has been stealthily shedding its extra pounds. The latest stand-off between the naanbais and their detractors who are equally adamant to deny them their rightful succour can be traced back to the beginning of the year.

This is a tough one to fathom. It is a jumble of threats and promises: threats mostly by the bakers but sometimes by the officials trying to almost coerce these proud tandoor craftsmen with shiny bright foreheads into selling at government rates. Promises, mostly by officials to a public forever ready to queue up at the tandoors for their daily fill of pateeris, khameeris, naans and what not, but sometimes by the naanbais, too, who say they are eager to sell and serve.

Various rates and weights and varieties and qualities have been thrown into the mix in the last six or seven months of apparently intense negotiations. Various regional and geographical angles have come in, such as the one where KP is blaming poor old Punjab for scuttling the supply of flour.

While so much else around the tandoor has changed, some topics of discussion are eternally the same.

There have been stories upon stories about mismanagement and unavoidable situations spiking the prices of wheat and making all these requests and warnings by the government to naanbais look unreasonable. Even when it is to be kept in mind that tandoori rotis have become quite a burden on domestic budgets.

In any case, the issues must be insurmountable for these talks between naanbai associations and the government have been inconclusive so far. Not to forget the wheat scandal which was thrown in somewhere in the middle to complicate things at such a basic unit signifying life in the city - and perhaps villages - in Pakistan.

The debate at the tandoor is unending and it is a tribute to our...