Maryam Nawaz, the Chief Minister of Pakistan's Punjab, is conducting raids at shops to keep naan-roti prices in check.
"She has proven herself to be a capable and effective leader," read a fan comment on X, seeing Maryam Nawaz taking to the streets.
It's not even two months that Maryam Nawaz assumed office in Lahore but is now basking in the limelight.
MARYAM NAWAZ SLAMMED FOR McDONALD'S TREATPunjab CM Maryam Nawaz faced backlash on social media for offering McDonald’s burgers and fries to school children during her recent visit to Murree (north Punjab) amid rising food inflation and boycott calls for the American chain for its alleged support to Israel.
"This action of Maryam Nawaz has sent a devastating message.
There's naan other like her in Pakistan. Maryam Nawaz, the Chief Minister of Pakistan's Punjab, is conducting raids at shops to keep naan-roti prices in check.
"She has proven herself to be a capable and effective leader," read a fan comment on X, seeing Maryam Nawaz taking to the streets.
It's not even two months that Maryam Nawaz assumed office in Lahore but is now basking in the limelight. She is the first-ever woman chief minister in Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
advertisement
She took to the streets of Lahore, raiding naan bakeries to ensure that breads were not overpriced in her province.
Maryam Nawaz's raids are intended to ensure that a 100 gram roti costs Rs 16 and a naan costs Rs 20.
Maryam's raids on naan-roti shops were similar to what Anil Kapoor does as the chief minister in the movie Nayak.
However, while Maryam's Nayak-like raids got her public appreciation, she has also courted controversy for treating school kids to McDonald’s burgers and fries.
MARYAM NAWAZ SLAMMED FOR McDONALD'S TREAT
Punjab CM Maryam Nawaz faced backlash on social media for offering McDonald’s burgers and fries to school children during her recent visit to Murree (north Punjab) amid rising food inflation and boycott calls for the American chain for its alleged support to Israel.
As the photos and videos of the burger treat went viral, Jamaat-e-Islam Senator Mushtaq Ahmad Khan slammed Maryam, saying she was "rubbing salt in the wounds of Pakistanis".
Mushtaq Ahmad Khan demanded Maryam Nawaz's apology too.
He held that it was shameful that the government was incapable of taking any diplomatic measures for the injured Palestinian children.
"This action of Maryam Nawaz has sent a devastating message. It is pro-Israel and anti-Palestinian. It is embarrassing and sad to upload a picture of her eating a McDonald's burger," the Jamaat-e-Islam Senator wrote on X.
While some called Maryam Nawaz's act 'thoughtless and mindless', others compared it to the lavish and ignorant French queen Marie Antoinette and her "let them eat bread".
"Extravagancy over the top with no awareness of the suffering of the poor. More care for her image than others. Hope she meets the same end," remarked a Reddit user.
Maryam's party, PMLN, however, called her gesture a "thoughtful act".
FOOD INFLATION IN PAKISTAN
Pakistan, the cash-starved nation, is battling the worst inflation in years. Pakistan's inflation rose to a record 48.65% in May, driven mainly by food prices, the highest in South Asia.
The trade deficit, depreciation of the Pakistan rupee and high cost of raw materials is hurting the Pakistani food sector badly, as it now depends on wheat imports from East European countries.
advertisement
Pakistan has been facing acute wheat shortages since 2022, following the devastating floods which submerged one third of the country. The wheat crisis in Pakistan saw widespread hoarding and blackmarketing of atta, with prices shooting up to Rs 3,200 for a bag of 20 kilograms.
THE NAAN-ROTI RAID OF SHARIFS
Maryam wasn't alone raiding on the ground on Tuesday. She was accompanied by Nawaz Sharif, her father and PML-N supremo.
Punjab's ministers and legislators, too, are on a raiding spree across Punjab.
"I will keep reviewing the price of bread myself," said Nawaz Sharif, the former Pakistani Prime Minister.
"Bought a roti to check the weight. The tandoor had notification by Govt of Punjab displayed," CM Maryam wrote on X following the raid.
The joint raid follows an announcement by the Punjab government of a reduction in the prices of roti and naan, the staple of Pakistani folk.
The decision to fix the rates was targeted at increasing the financial strain on citizens, especially the economically disadvantaged, according to SAMATV.
For a smooth implementation of the new bread rates, CM Maryam Nawaz held a meeting with the members of the Punjab assembly, and entrusted them with the responsibility of monitoring the fixed prices of roti and naan across Punjab.
advertisement
However, not all naan masters obeyed the new rules. Following the non-complaince, at least 14 people were arrested for selling roti and naan at higher rates, reported DailyTimes.
A handful of naan shops were sealed too.
Punjab Food Minister Bilal Yasin, too, visited naan shops in Lahore on Tuesday to review the roti and naan prices.
Yasin held that habitual criminals, who sold bread above the fixed price, must be sent behind bars, according to DailyTimes.
The bread price cap was notified after considering the numbers, added Yasin.
To ensure the slashed standard prices of bread, Maryam Nawaz said that grievances and complaints could be lodged on a helpline and the "Qeemat Punjab App" for immediate resolution, according to DailyTimes.
The decision to price cap and the personal on-ground surveillance is being hailed as a monumental step by many on the social media, including PMLN lawmakers, ministers and party supporters.
Yet, despite the reduction in bread prices, dissatisfaction persists amongst some, as the unchecked price of chicken, whose salan would be paired with bread, remains a concern.
advertisement
As a gentleman pointed out on X, "If you got free time from the drama of bread and naan, then check the rate of chicken in Punjab. It has gone above 800. Also, check the rate of tomatoes and onions."
