TAXILA, Feb 16: Tandoorwalas have increased the prices of Roti to Rs6 and Naan to Rs7 and Rs8 and they have been charging this price for the last two weeks with impunity.

The tehsil municipal administration (TMA), and local price control committee were least concerned about the prices increased by Naanbais on their own.

The Taxila/ Wah ‘Naanbais’ Association attributed the increase in roti price to shortage of  ‘atta . Some of ‘naanbais’ are even selling Roti for Rs7 and Naan for Rs8.

Besides the rising flour prices, the bakers partially held soaring fuel and other input costs responsible for the increase.

Talking to this reporter,’ residents of the area said that it was the height of lawlessness in Taxila and Wah Cantonment that Naanbais had increased Roti and Naan prices at their whim but nobody was there to keep check on them.

Malik Tahir Suleman, a resident of Dhabian, while talking to this reporter demanded that a proper mechanism should be evolved to check the prices of Roti and Naan on daily basis.

Dr Saeed Ahmed, president of a local NGO, said that authorities concerned should take notice of the increase and bring it down.

Tanveer Ahmed, a Nanbai at Taxila Cantonment main bazaar, said that it was not possible for them to sell bread on the old price as cost of flour had surged in the local market.

When contacted Taxila ‘Naanbais’ Association President Musharraf Khan said that they had increased prices of Roti and Naan because of increase in ‘atta’ and fuel prices as 100-kg of ‘atta’ bag was selling for Rs1,000.

Besides, expensive firewood is being used in Tandoors owing to zero gas pressure.

He also admitted that some Naanbais are selling Roti for Rs7 and Naan for 8.

When contacted, tehsil municipal officer Khalid Khan said that they did not issue any notification in this regard and vowed to take strict legal action against violators of price list.