In Quetta, a heated conflict over bread prices has led to the arrest of 168 bakers and the sealing of over 100 tandoors. The dispute stems from a district administration decision to slash the price of naan and roti by Rs10, setting a 360-gram roti at Rs30. This move, prompted by a recent drop in flour prices, has been met with fierce resistance from local bakers.
The District Price Control Committee, in a meeting on April 21, cited a Rs300 reduction in the cost of a 20-kilogram flour sack—now priced between Rs1600 and Rs1700—as the basis for the price cut. Additional Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Anwar Kakar emphasized that while bakers quickly raise prices when flour costs soar, they resist passing on savings to consumers when prices fall. Following public complaints, the administration launched a crackdown, targeting non-compliant tandoors across areas like Kuchlak, Saryab, and the city center.
The operation resulted in 107 tandoors being shut down and 92 bakers jailed for a month, with others released after fines and written apologies. Social media posts from the Deputy Commissioner’s office showcased videos of bakers expressing regret for defying the price mandate.
However, the Bakers’ Association of Quetta has firmly opposed the new pricing, arguing it ignores rising costs for gas, electricity, rent, and labor. Leaders Reza Khan and Mohammad Naeem Khilji, in a press conference, highlighted that the mandated roti weight increase from 320 to 360 grams exacerbates their financial strain. They also criticized the administration for excluding them from the decision-making process and demanded prices align with those in major cities like Karachi and Lahore.
With over 1,800 tandoors in Quetta, the association claims 380 have already been sealed. They’ve issued an ultimatum: revise the price order by Tuesday, or all tandoors will close in protest. The standoff has left residents caught between affordable bread and the looming threat of a citywide tandoor shutdown, as tensions between the administration and bakers show no signs of easing.
