One Roti at a Time – Fighting Hunger with Dignity
Current Situation in Pakistan
Soaring inflation in Pakistan and hike in flour prices, have made it difficult for the poor to purchase bread. As the prices of food items continue to rise in Pakistan survival for the common family is becoming more difficult.
Shafiq Qureshi, the central president of the Pakistan Nanbai Association, announced that from July 2024, the red flour roti will sell at Rs25, khamiri roti at Rs30, naan at Rs35 and paratha will sell at Rs60 each. He said: “In just one week, the prices of a bag of red flour has been increased to Rs12,450, a bag of fine flour to Rs12,900 and a bag of superfine flour has been increased to Rs12,950.”
Inflation in Pakistan has reached new heights as it rose to a record 38% on a year-on-year basis in May 2023, causing poverty to rise exponentially. Poverty is a global issue of concern, affecting most of developing countries not only physically but also psychologically. Poverty divides a nation.
Our priorities for this project include:
- Value for Life: relief operations ensuring availability of basic facilities.
- Sustainability: Recognising the importance of provision of basic needs like food at low rates on the longer run.
- Societal Empowerment: Ensuring efforts towards permanent growth and stability is imperative to recover from social, and economic standpoint.
This will be the first ever construction of a tandoor in the area with no setup within a radius of 5 -6 Km’s. Supporting the construction of a low cost model Tandoor project in community settlements for village people.
It will be will be operated 4hrs daily between 12pm and 2pm and 6pm to 8pm.
We aim to feed 500 families with enough rotis per day, which requires 40 – 45 kg of flour daily.
Normally in Pakistan these day a roti cost 25 Rs. Our model will undergo a minimal price i.e. 10 Rs for the roti for making the setup self-sustainable and bear the monthly overhead expense along with
minimal funds to keep the setup running.
In addition, we will require 2 staff members on a combined salary of 18,000 Rs per month.
Overall, a three month setup will cost 685,000 Rs (£1,950) for start-up and running for three months. It will cover elements that include rent, staff, a tandoor and 1,200kg of flour.
Thereafter, the running costs will be 65,333 Rs p/m, after income, (£185)
What Have As-Salaam Done So Far
It has been agreed to host it in Village Ahmad Ali, District Sanghar, which is a very marginalised area of Sindh, these people can hardly make ends meet. The high prices of flour and edibles has lead to starvation of many people in this area.
How You Can Help
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “give food to the hungry, pay a visit to the sick and release (set free) the one in captivity (by paying his ransom). [Sahih al-Bukhari 5373].
Providing food to those in need addresses a fundamental human need—hunger, and alleviates the hardships faced by individuals living in poverty. It’s not just about sustenance, but also about showing compassion and solidarity. Offering food creates a sense of community and connection, letting those in need feel valued and supported. By providing food, we contribute to the well-being of society and uplift those who may otherwise be overlooked.
Help us with:
- Roti (Per 500) – £10
- Flour (Per 25kg) – £18
- Staff Cost (Per Month) – £25
- Tandoor – £75
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Give food to the hungry, pay a visit to the sick and release (set free) the one in captivity (by paying his ransom).
