President of Rawalpindi Restaurants Caterers Sweets and Bakers Association Mohammad Farooq Chaudhry said that the Rawalpindi High Court has been approached against the unbalanced rate of roti between restaurants and Tandoors.We met to Director General Industries, Price, Weight and Measure Punjab Asif Ali Farrukh ,Who supported our stance and assured that until the final decision on this issue, instructions will be issued to the DC Rawalpindi not to check the prices of Roti in restaurants until the decision is made.And also Nor should any disciplinary action be taken against Restaurants.
He said this on his return after meeting Director General Industries, Price, Weight and Measures Punjab Asif Ali Farrukh.Patron-in-chief Muhammad Naeem, Senior Vice President Chaudhry Zahid Mehmood, Vice President Sardar Mahmood Hussain Niko and Advocate Osama Yusuf were also present on this occasion.President of Rawalpindi Restaurants Caters Sweets and Bakers Association Muhammad Farooq Chaudhry told the honorable members in the important meeting on his return that he met the Director General Industries, Price, Weight and Measure Punjab Asif Ali Farrukh on court orders.The association had challenged the Roti price notification issued by the Director General in May through a writ petition in the Rawalpindi Bench of the Lahore High Court.In the writ petition, the association had argued that restaurants provide excellent services to the public.Regular taxes are also paid on these services.Besides, the government has been providing cheap gas to Tandoor since 2015.While restaurants were not given such a discount.
On this, Justice Mirza Waqas A Rauf directed that the petition of the restaurant association should be presented to Director General Industries, Price, Weight and Measures Punjab Asif Ali Farrukh. And said that after knowing the stance of the Restaurant Association, a decision should be made within two weeks.In the light of court orders, we met along with our legal team to Director General Asif Ali Farrukh and shared the details.We told him very clear that the Punjab Price Control Essential Commodities Act does not apply to restaurants.Restaurants provide their customers with the best facilities in a luxurious environment can never be compared to Tandoors.Association President Muhammad Farooq Chaudhry said that there is a difference between the gas tariff of Tandoors and restaurants.Therefore, the rates prescribed for Tandoor may not be applicable to restaurants.
Muhammad Farooq Chaudhry also referred to the statement given by Food Minister Bilal Yasin at the Commissioner’s Office in Faisalabad.The Director General supported our stance and said that the matter will be discussed at the government level.After which the decision will be informed.President Association Muhammad Farooq Chaudhry said that DG said that instructions will also be issued to DC Rawalpindi on this issue.So that the price of bread in the restaurants will not be checked and no disciplinary action will be taken until the decision is made.President Association Muhammad Farooq Chaudhry said that we are grateful to Director General Punjab Asif Ali Farrukh who listened about our reservations. We hope that a decision will be taken keeping our issues in mind.
