espite strict directives from Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, the city administration seems to have failed to control the prices of naan and roti. In a clear violation of government orders, many a tandoor in Lahore continues to sell these food items at the old rates — naan for Rs 25 each, and roti for Rs 20.

In April this year, the chief minister had ordered that the prices be reduced to Rs 20 and Rs 16 for a naan weighing 120gm and a 100-gm roti, respectively. As per the notification, the new rates shall remain in effect until further orders. The notification said that a contravention of the orders was punishable under Sections 6 and 7 of the Price Control and Prevention of Profiteering and Hoarding Act, 1977; and the West Pakistan Foodstuffs (Control) Act, 1958.

A month later, amid a wheat purchase crisis, the Punjab government further reduced the price of roti by one rupee to Rs 15 in the province. The price of a 20-kg bag of atta (wheat flour) had meanwhile fallen from Rs 2,800 to Rs 2,000.

However, many tandoorwalas (bakers) weren’t willing to comply. They complained that the price reduction had been ordered without taking them on board. They blamed the ex-mill price of flour and an exorbitant hike in gas prices for making it difficult for them to follow the instructions.

Amjad Khan, a baker, says a 40-kg bag of flour is currently available in the market for Rs 1,250 and refined flour (maida) for Rs 1,400 per 40kg. “The administration needs to reduce the ex-mill price of flour before they can expect us to offer relief to the consumer. We will sell roti for Rs 15 if the city administration guarantees us cheaper flour,” he tells TNS, adding that the new rates could cause “huge losses” to the tandoor owners.

When contacted, Hafiz Qaiser Abbas, a spokesperson for the city government, says the new rates of roti and naan will be enforced. He says that price magistrates have been asked to check the markets and bazaars and register cases against those who refuse to follow the official rates.

“The administration needs to reduce the ex-mill price of flour before they expect us to offer relief to the consumer. We will sell roti for Rs 15 if the city administration guarantees us cheaper flour,” says Amjad Khan, a baker.

He talks of “56 price control magistrates [who are] working in Lahore to ensure the provision of essential commodities on notified rates across the district. They conduct raids randomly and take strict legal action in case of a violation. So far, 104,970 inspections have been conducted and 866 FIRs registered. More than 50 people have been apprehended, and 676 premises sealed.”

Abbas also says the district administration has held meetings with the representatives of All Pakistan Naanbai Association who had threatened to go on strike for an indefinite period. He says the negotiations were successful. Besides, there was consensus on displaying roti prices at all shops, he adds.

Interestingly, the roti now comes at another ‘price.’ As Asad Abbas, a resident of Qila Gujjar Singh, notes, wherever the roti is being sold at the newly fixed rate (Rs 15), it is of inferior quality. “It’s lighter than the regular weight,” he says, adding that if the government is serious about providing relief to the citizens who are already weighed down by hyperinflation it must ensure stricter implementation of price control.

The price of naan continues to shift. Rashid Ali, a resident of Shahdara, says that “posh restaurants are selling naan for as high as Rs 60 per piece. At some downtown eateries, it’s being sold for Rs 30. That’s not fair.”

Ahsan Zia is a print and broadcast journalist