Swat Bread Maker Offers Budget-Friendly Bread

Adnan Bacha

Swat: As Ramadan begins, food prices across the country tend to rise sharply. From milk and ghee to meat and sugar, the prices of essential items soar, making it increasingly difficult for the poor to afford their daily needs.

However, in the central city of Mingora, Swat, there are some individuals who prioritize reward over profit during Ramadan. One such person is Janan, a local bread maker. During Ramadan, Janan offers a special deal for the underprivileged, selling a 170-gram piece of bread for only 20 rupees.

In an interview, Janan shared that between 2 PM and 5 PM, he bakes around 2,000 loaves of bread, which are quickly sold out.

“I have kept my profit margin very low, and often I incur a loss. But the reward I receive in return is something I constantly hope for—perhaps there is no price for it,” he said.

Janan further explained that while many people increase prices to make more profit during Ramadan, they forget that helping others in this month has a greater reward than profit.

He bakes bread daily, and it sells out by Iftar time, with many people coming in large numbers to purchase it.

As Ramadan begins in Swat, the prices of food items have surged. Meat is being sold for up to 1,300 rupees per kilogram, while chicken has reached 750 rupees per kilogram, compared to 800 rupees and 500 rupees per kilogram before Ramadan.

Regular bread is being sold for 30 to 40 rupees per piece. In this scenario, Janan is winning the hearts of the people by selling bread at affordable prices.

Anwar Hussain, a resident of Mingora, who came to buy bread from Janan’s shop, shared, “I earn 500 to 700 rupees a day. It becomes difficult to decide what to buy with that money.

Bread, which is a basic necessity, if sold at a lower price, who wouldn’t want to buy it? I salute Janan for his efforts and urge other shopkeepers to also take special care of the poor during Ramadan.”