Bakeries and tandoors across Pakistan's Peshawar and other parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have shut down indefinitely after bakers launched a province-wide strike, blaming acute flour shortages and administrative failures by the Pakistan government for crippling their businesses. The shutdown was triggered by restrictions on the movement of flour from Punjab into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which bakers say has severely disrupted supply chains and caused a sharp rise in prices. At the same time, local authorities have failed to issue revised official price lists for bread and bakery items, leaving shop owners vulnerable to penalties and enforcement action.

Representatives of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Nanbai Association said soaring flour costs, coupled with inflation, frequent power outages and rising operational expenses, have made it impossible for bakers to continue operations. Without updated government-approved rates, bakery owners claim they are being fined, harassed and even arrested during inspections despite circumstances beyond their control.

The association has accused both provincial and federal authorities of poor coordination and policy paralysis, arguing that the crisis could have been avoided with timely administrative intervention. Bakers have demanded the immediate lifting of restrictions on flour transportation, issuance of a revised price notification, and an end to punitive actions against tandoor owners.

The strike has disrupted access to affordable staple food for thousands of residents, particularly low-income households that rely on tandoors for daily meals. Observers say the shutdown underscores broader concerns over food security, governance failures and the growing economic stress facing small businesses in Pakistan.  Unless authorities address the supply bottlenecks and administrative gaps, bakers warn the shutdown will continue, deepening hardship for consumers and further exposing the government’s inability to manage basic essentials during an ongoing economic crisis.