LAHORE: On a report of the Special Branch, the Chief Secretary Punjab took notice of the flour sale at the higher than officially-fixed price and ordered the deputy commissioners to take stern action against the shopkeepers and dealers involved in overcharging in Lahore, Gujranwala, and Hafizabad.
He issued these directions while presiding over the daily-review meeting on price control. With the indication of those overcharging consumers for flour in Lahore, Gujranwala, and Hafizabad, the Additional IG Special Branch presented the report in the meeting.
The Chief Secretary directed the officers to deal profiteers with an iron hand, saying that those fleecing people do not deserve any leniency.
He said that as per the directives of the Prime Minister and Chief Minister Punjab, monitoring of prices and availability of essential commodities is being carried out through the Special Branch, Intelligence Bureau, and Urban Unit, adding that the identification of mistakes helps adopt corrective measures.
He asked the field officers to review the quality, supply, prices of commodities, and other arrangements in Sahulat bazaars and make them better. The Chief Secretary ordered all the deputy commissioners to prepare a list of demand and supply of essential commodities in their districts for the whole year to make sure there is no shortage of any item.
The short supply is the main reason for the increase in prices, he remarked.
Another direction was about listing the major busy markets in cities to help narrow down the areas for inspections.
The meeting was briefed that as per the direction of Chief Minister Punjab, 339 Sahulat bazaars have been made functional across the province to ensure the availability of essential items, including flour and sugar, at discounted rates.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2020
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