The naanbais have begun defying orders from Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz by selling roti and naan at the previous prices of Rs20 and Rs25. This defiance is attributed to the ineffective governance of the local administration in Rawalpindi, which has ignored the situation.
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz had set the prices of ‘Roti’ at Rs14 and ‘Naan’ at Rs20. However, influential naanbais continued selling ‘Roti’ at Rs20 and ‘Naan’ at Rs25. Despite the Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Rawalpindi, Hasan Waqar Cheema, issuing a notification regarding new food item prices and ‘Roti’ rates, retail shopkeepers and naanbais rejected this notification, considering the new rates unrealistic, and continued selling at higher prices.
The Deputy Commissioner of Rawalpindi, Hasan Waqar Cheema, issued Notification No. IPWM/RWP/G-42, directing that a 100-gram Roti be sold at Rs14. However, the naanbais refused to comply and continued selling Roti at Rs20 and Naan at Rs25.
Muhammad Shafiq Qureshi, President of the Rawalpindi Naanbais Welfare Association (RNWA), stated that they can’t sell Roti at Rs14 and Naan at Rs20 due to the continuous rise in ‘Atta’ prices and the increasing tariffs of electricity and gas. Consequently, they have decided to sell Roti at Rs20 and Naan at Rs25.
An official notification by the Deputy Commissioner of Rawalpindi listed the prices of milk at Rs170 per kg, yogurt at Rs200 per kg, mutton at Rs1,600 per kg, and beef at Rs800 per kg, along with prices for various pulses, rice, spices, flour, and sugar.
However, in the open market, shopkeepers are selling fresh milk at Rs200 per kg, yogurt at Rs220 per kg, mutton at Rs2,200 per kg, beef at Rs1,200 per kg, and other items at higher prices than the official rates. Wholesale dealers and retail shopkeepers argue that the Deputy Commissioner’s price list does not reflect the reality of the open market, where prices are rising daily, making it impossible to sell items at the reduced prices set by the government.