ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has restrained the district administration from launching coercive measures against naanbais in the federal capital, offering temporary relief to tandoor owners locked in a bitter dispute with the government over roti prices.
On Friday, Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir, while hearing a petition filed by the Capital Naan Bai Association, issued an interim order barring the authorities from sealing tandoors, imposing fines, or lodging FIRs until further directions.
The case has been relisted for October 1.The association’s president, Sajjad Abbai, through counsel Advocate Umar Ijaz Gilani, challenged the government’s May 14, 2024 notification fixing the price of roti at Rs18. He argued that the rate was agreed last year when flour prices were relatively stable.
However, due to unprecedented floods, soaring wheat prices, and inflationary pressures, the cost of flour has since surged, making it unfeasible for naanbais to sell at the fixed rate without incurring heavy losses. “The livelihoods of thousands of tandoor workers are at stake,” the petitioner maintained, stressing that the government’s rigid stance has pushed many naanbais to the brink of financial collapse.
Advocate Gilani told the court that repeated requests for dialogue with the Deputy Commissioner (DC) Islamabad were ignored. He pointed out that a similar standoff last year was only resolved after IHC intervention, when the Controller of Prices held consultations with naanbai representatives and reached a compromise.
Justice Arbab directed the DC to hold a meeting with representatives of the association on September 30 to explore a negotiated settlement. “If the meeting fails, the court itself will determine the roti price,” he observed, underscoring the judiciary’s resolve to prevent exploitation on either side.
The case has now become a flashpoint, reflecting the wider inflation crisis faced by consumers and small businesses alike. While consumers demand affordable roti, naanbais insist on survival under rising flour costs. The final decision on October 1 will determine whether compromise or confrontation shapes Islamabad’s daily bread.
