Bread prices higher than flour
Bread prices higher than flour
By Atif Khan
ISLAMABAD: People on Monday complained that bakers (naanwallahs) and hotel managers continue to overcharge for bread though the flour price has not been increased.The Islamabad administration has succeeded in convincing flourmill owners not to increase flour price from Rs 365 per 20 kg after over a week of discussions. Food Department officials told Daily Times that flour supply had been resumed in Islamabad and Rawalpindi.They said the city administration has fixed ex-mill flour price at Rs 365/20 kg, dealers’ price at Rs 375/20 kg and retail price at 380/20 kg. Retailers have apprehensions on the new flour prices as they think that their profit has been lessened and that of dealers enhanced. It has been witnessed that there was no flour shortage in markets after settlement of the price dispute between millers and the administration.Bakers and hotel managers, who increased bread price from Rs 3 to Rs 4 apiece in the days of flour shortage, are not willing to lower the price after normalisation of the situation.“We bought 20 kg flour for Rs 415 in black market during weeklong strike of flourmills, which is why we are selling bread at higher prices,” Farid Ahmed, a hotel manager, said. Consumers complain that it was unjust that bakers would overcharge for bread. “Hotel owners have increased bread price last week on account of unavailability flour in the market. Now that there is no shortage, they ought to lower the price,” Rana Maqbool, a customer, said. He said increase in bread price was not but failure of the city administration.“Weight of bread is lower than 125 grams, which is the standard, and it stretches like rubber. The government has failed to ensure quality and weight of the bread,” said Baqir Hussain.A Food Department official said he had no idea how overly the backers and hotel managers were charging for bread. He advised citizens to register a complaint of overcharging with the department’s related official and then an action would be taken.http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2008\06\10\story_10-6-2008_pg11_4
By Atif Khan
ISLAMABAD: People on Monday complained that bakers (naanwallahs) and hotel managers continue to overcharge for bread though the flour price has not been increased.The Islamabad administration has succeeded in convincing flourmill owners not to increase flour price from Rs 365 per 20 kg after over a week of discussions. Food Department officials told Daily Times that flour supply had been resumed in Islamabad and Rawalpindi.They said the city administration has fixed ex-mill flour price at Rs 365/20 kg, dealers’ price at Rs 375/20 kg and retail price at 380/20 kg. Retailers have apprehensions on the new flour prices as they think that their profit has been lessened and that of dealers enhanced. It has been witnessed that there was no flour shortage in markets after settlement of the price dispute between millers and the administration.Bakers and hotel managers, who increased bread price from Rs 3 to Rs 4 apiece in the days of flour shortage, are not willing to lower the price after normalisation of the situation.“We bought 20 kg flour for Rs 415 in black market during weeklong strike of flourmills, which is why we are selling bread at higher prices,” Farid Ahmed, a hotel manager, said. Consumers complain that it was unjust that bakers would overcharge for bread. “Hotel owners have increased bread price last week on account of unavailability flour in the market. Now that there is no shortage, they ought to lower the price,” Rana Maqbool, a customer, said. He said increase in bread price was not but failure of the city administration.“Weight of bread is lower than 125 grams, which is the standard, and it stretches like rubber. The government has failed to ensure quality and weight of the bread,” said Baqir Hussain.A Food Department official said he had no idea how overly the backers and hotel managers were charging for bread. He advised citizens to register a complaint of overcharging with the department’s related official and then an action would be taken.http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2008\06\10\story_10-6-2008_pg11_4
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