Pakistan
Naanbais Refuse to Sell Roti, Naan at Government-Fixed Prices
In a bold move, naanbais in Rawalpindi have begun defying orders from Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz by selling roti and naan at previous prices, despite government directives to reduce prices.
The defiance comes amid ineffective governance and unrealistic price controls, which have been ignored by the local administration.
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Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz had set prices of roti at Rs14 and naan at Rs20, but influential naanbais continue to sell at Rs20 and Rs25, respectively.
The Deputy Commissioner’s notification, directing price reductions, has been rejected by retail shopkeepers and naanbais, who argue that new rates are unrealistic due to rising ‘Atta’ prices and increasing electricity and gas tariffs.
The Rawalpindi Naanbais Welfare Association has stated that they cannot sell at government-fixed prices and will continue to sell roti at Rs20 and naan at Rs25.
Meanwhile, shopkeepers in the open market are selling essential items at higher prices than official rates, citing daily price increases and unrealistic government price controls.
The situation highlights the challenges of enforcing price controls and the need for effective governance to address the concerns of both businesses and consumers.
