Seven naanbais held for overcharging customers

Authorities also fine 68 violators, seal four tandoors in Rawalpindi

ISLAMABAD/RAWALPINDI:

At least seven naanbais were arrested for selling roti (plain bread) against the price of Rs16 per roti set by the Punjab government.

The authorities also imposed a fine of Rs170,000 on 68 violators for charging above the stipulated price and also sealed four ovens/tandoors.

The district administration issued a notification fixing the prices of roti and naan at Rs16 and Rs20 for a standard serving size of 120 grams.

The district administrations across Punjab, including Rawalpindi, are actively enforcing these regulations. However, despite these measures, associations representing naanbais have rejected the price reduction, citing the absence of corresponding decreases in the costs of petrol, diesel, and electricity. They have announced their intent to continue selling roti and naan at previous rates.

Rawalpindi Deputy Commissioner, Hassan Waqar Cheema, affirmed the commitment of price magistrates in the district to enforce the government-mandated prices for roti and naan. Over the last 24 hours, more than 100 tandoor shops were inspected, leading to the identification of 68 violators.

Cheema reiterated the determination of authorities to uphold the mandated prices for roti and naan, emphasising that compliance would be ensured without compromise.

Federal govt reduces prices

On Tuesday, in response to this initiative of the Punjab government, the federal capital also reduced the prices of roti and naan by fixing their prices at Rs16 and Rs20 respectively, however, and naanbais kept their prices while refusing to obey the government order.

Assistant Commissioners and Price Control Magistrates have been tasked with ensuring the enforcement of these new prices across Islamabad.

In line with Deputy Commissioner Irfan Nawaz Memon's instructions, Assistant Commissioner Secretariat Abdullah Khan convened a meeting with the Nanbai Association to discuss the implementation of the revised prices. Despite these efforts, tandoors/naanbais in the twin cities are standing firm on their prices, declining to reduce them as per the government's rates.

A citizen named Muhammad Tassawar, a resident of the Sohan area lamented the lack of reduction in prices at local tandoors and naanbaiss, where roti was still being sold at Rs20 and naan at Rs25. Similarly, Shabeer Hussain from the G-8 area, highlighted that despite the government's intervention, tandoors and naanbais in the federal capital were selling Roti at Rs25 and naan at Rs 30, placing a financial burden on the residents.

When contacted by the ICT Spokesman, Dr Abdullah Tabassum, he assured that strict action would be taken against those violating the price regulations. He emphasised that assistant commissioners and magistrates have been assigned specific tasks to ensure compliance with the new roti and naan prices in Islamabad.

Case registered

Rawalpindi Police filed a case against Shafiq Qureshi, the central president of the All Pakistan Naanbai Association for releasing a video statement against the notification of roti price reduction.

Bani police registered a case based on the complaint filed by Head Constable Rizwan Zafar. Qureshi had released a video statement opposing a notification from the Punjab government. He had been missing since Sunday, and the First Information Report surfaced on Monday (Yesterday).

A case has been registered against Shafiq Qureshi under Section 16 of the Maintenance of Public Order.

With additional input from APP

Published in The Express Tribune, April 17^th, 2024.