Naanbais announce indefinite strike

RAWALPINDI:

The Pakistan Naanbai Association has announced an indefinite strike across Rawalpindi Division today (Wednesday) in protest against the relentless surge in the prices of wheat flour and fine flour, the imposition of heavy fines, and reported actions by the PERA force, including the demolition of tandoors and penalties of up to Rs100,000.

As part of the protest, all 21,000 tandoors across the division — large and small — will remain closed. The association and tandoor owners, in a joint declaration, said they cannot continue selling bread at the government-fixed rate when flour prices have soared so drastically. "Our business has been destroyed within a year; we are now compelled to consider shutting down entirely," the association stated.

Association President Muhammad Shafiq Qureshi told The Express Tribune that prices have escalated sharply since the Maryam government assumed office in Punjab.