LAHORE: Launching a crackdown to implement new prices of roti and naan, the government teams on Monday got arrested 15 people (Nanbais) for flouting official order.

The teams, according to an official spokesman, inspected 296 roti/nan points (tandoors) in city, issued notices to 46 people, imposed fine on 19 and got seven arrested. The teams inspected 76 points in Raiwind tehsil, followed by 65 in City, 45 in Cantonment, 40 in Model Town and 70 in Shalimar.

On the other hand, Punjab Food Minister Bilal Yasin conducted raids in various markets to ensure availability of roti and naan at the notified prices (Rs16 and Rs 20, respectively) and got arrested eight people for overcharging in Sanda, Islampura, Rajgarh and Anarkali areas. He also got sealed various points.

Speaking on this occasion, he said that he would visit markets everyday in the morning and evening as the government would not allow anybody to sell expensive naan and roti.

Bilal Yasin said that the price of a 20 kg bag of flour had been reduced by Rs 500.

“The positive effect of this reduction in flour prices should be passed on to the public. The administration should ensure that roti is sold at Rs16 and naan at Rs20 in all areas,” he said.

He directed officials concerned to also ensure standard weight of roti and naan and get the price list clearly displayed in each shop.

DG KHAN: Eight shops were sealed in Dera Ghazi Khan division for charging more than the official price of roti and naan while 19 people were arrested.

A fine of Rs 170,000 was also imposed on wholesalers, said Dera Commissioner Dr Nasir Mahmood Bashir during a briefing.

The commissioner was told that price control magistrates raided various places in the division and spotted violation of the Price Control Act at 74 places.

He said the price of roti in Muzaffargarh, Layyah and Kot Addu had been fixed at Rs 12, Dera Ghazi Khan and Rajanpur Rs. 13. Naan will be sold at Rs 15 in DGK, Rs16 in Layyah, Muzaffargarh and Kot Addu districts and Rs 17 in Rajanpur.

Published in Dawn, April 16th, 2024