HARIPUR: Nanbais called off their strike here on Wednesday as a mark of respect for the current holy month of Muharram.

They, however, warned they would close shops if the roti price wasn’t increased appropriately.

Nanbais Association Haripur president Mushtaq Hussain Shah told Dawn here that nanbais had agreed to call off their daylong strike out of respect for Muharram after holding talks with the deputy commissioner.

He said the association would take up its issues with the chief secretary after the conclusion of Muharram and would give a call for strike and street protests if the demand for roti price hike was not met.

Mr Shah complained that the district administration didn’t increase roti price from Rs20 to Rs30 as requested by the association in several meetings.

He justified the demand for roti rate hike saying utility charges have skyrocketed and the price of a 100kg flour bag has hit the all-time high of Rs12,000 in the last few months.

The association leader claimed that instead of addressing “genuine concerns” of nanbais, the district administration had begun pressuring them to withdraw from their position through arrests and detentions.

He said the deputy commissioner told association leaders in a meeting that the action against nanbaiswas taken by the district administrationin line with the directives of the chief secretary.

Published in Dawn, July 27th, 2023