IHC suspends naan, roti price cut notification in Islamabad

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) suspended the notification of a reduction in the prices of roti and naan in the federal capital on Wednesday.

IHC Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri heard the plea challenging the reduction in the prices of naan and roti. In the plea, the Naanbai Welfare Association maintained that the controller general cut the price of roti from Rs25 to Rs16 and naan from Rs30 to Rs20.

Justice Tariq issued the order to suspend the notification of the reduction in roti prices and added that the notification will remain suspended till the next hearing on May 6.

Earlier, the Islamabad administration notification had set the price of roti and naan at Rs16 and Rs20, respectively, following the Punjab government’s notification slashing the price of roti across the province.

READ MORE: Tandoors defy federal govt’s roti, naan price reduction in Islamabad

During the hearing, the petitioner’s lawyer Barrister Umar Ejaz Gilani argued that the concerned authorities did not take Naanbais on board before making the decision. He told the court that the decision was made without consulting them and that the new prices were too low.

The district administration representative told the court that the controller of general prices and suppliers was given powers to fix the rates of essential commodities including naan and roti.

Barrister Umar Aijaz Gilani, in the response, maintained that the powers of the controller general were not by Section 3 as per the notification issue. Furthermore, he said that flour is expensive here in Islamabad and the rents are also high,

Justice Tariq Mahmood asked the ICT administration that have they asked the Naanbai association about the rate of flour before reducing the price or order was passed just to please the people.

Adjourning the hearing of the case till May 6, the court ordered parties to submit detailed answers to the court at the next hearing.