PANIAI – The Paniai Regency Government has officially introduced two new policies aimed at strengthening community life while promoting economic growth based on local resources. The measures regulate business activities on Sundays and require restaurants to serve locally sourced food every Thursday.
Paniai Regent Yampit Nawipa said the policies are outlined in official circular letters issued as a follow-up to a regional regulation governing the observance of the day of worship and the promotion of locally produced agricultural commodities.
Under the new regulations, all business activities—including shops, kiosks, workshops, restaurants, and public transportation services—must suspend operations every Sunday from 6:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Eastern Indonesia Time (WIT). The local government hopes residents will use this period to rest and participate in religious worship without distraction.
In addition, all restaurants across Paniai Regency are required to serve menus featuring locally produced food every Thursday. The mandatory menu includes traditional agricultural products such as sweet potatoes (nota), taro, cabbage, Japanese pumpkin, pumpkin leaves, and other crops cultivated by local farmers.
According to Yampit Nawipa, the policy is part of the regional government’s broader strategy to strengthen food security while improving farmers’ livelihoods by increasing demand for locally produced agricultural products. The initiative is also aligned with the central government’s Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) Program, which has already been piloted in several elementary schools across Paniai Regency.
To ensure effective implementation, the Paniai Regency Government has assigned the Civil Service Police Unit (Satpol PP) to conduct regular inspections of business establishments and public activity centers. Violators of the regulations will face an administrative fine of IDR 1,000,000 for each offense.
Through these policies, the Paniai Regency Government hopes to encourage communities across its 216 villages in 24 districts to further develop the local agricultural sector, strengthening regional food security while creating sustainable economic opportunities and improving the welfare of local residents.
