Peshawar admin increases roti price after nanbais' strike.

PESHAWAR -- Having observed a strike in the daytime, nanbais (bakers) resumed the sale of roti on Wednesday evening here after the district administration formally increased its price by Rs5.

Tandoor owners began a shutter-down strike in the morning to demand notification of higher roti rate over the recent hike in wheat flour prices forcing the residents to wander from pillar to post for the bread for breakfast and lunch in the sweltering weather.

The highest temperature recorded in the daytime was 44 degree Celsius.

The nanbais called off the strike in the evening after the district administration gave in to their demand by notifying Rs15 for a 135 grammes roti.

The development came after a meeting between officials of the administration and office- bearers of the local nanbai association.

People wandered from pillar to post for bread in the daytime

Association president Haji Farooq Ahmed told Dawn that 115 grammes roti had been selling for Rs10 since 2018 when the price of a 85kg flour bag was Rs3,600.

He said currently, a 80kg flour bag cost Rs7,300 - the amount more than double the previous rate, while gas and electricity charges had also increased many times over the years, so barkers were struggling to sell roti at the old price.

'A week ago, we staged a demonstration demanding an increase in roti price and warned the district administration of a shutter-down strike,' he said.

Mr Ahmad said the association held successful talks with the district administration for price hike and therefore, nanbais reopen shops in the evening.

A leader of the nanbai association said the deputy commissioner was informed in the meeting that the people would have not suffered if the district administration had accepted their 'genuine' demand before.

A notification issued by the district administration read...