RAWALPINDI: The Naanbai Association has warned that tandoors across the city could be closed if the supply of subsidised flour is not restored.
The warning came after the Food Department suspended the supply of government-provided flour to naanbais.
According to the association, flour depots supplying naanbais in Rawalpindi have remained closed for the past two weeks, while the deputy commissioner has yet to provide a reason for the suspension.
The association said the halt in subsidised flour supplies had forced naanbais to purchase more expensive flour from the open market, making it difficult for them to sell roti at the government-fixed price.
According to the association, Rawalpindi has around 4,600 naanbais, but only about 200 were previously receiving subsidised flour.
The supply to these naanbais has now also been stopped.Sources claimed that subsidised government flour was being diverted and sold in the open market.
Naanbai Association President Shafiq Qureshi said that if the flour supply was not restored immediately, tandoors across Rawalpindi would be shut after August 14.
He urged the authorities to resolve the issue at the earliest, warning that a continued suspension of subsidised flour could affect the availability of roti at the official price.
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