49 essential items: PPCC approves team of regulatory powers

LAHORE: In a major administrative move aimed at ensuring the smooth and uninterrupted supply of essential commodities, the Punjab Price Control Council (PPCC) on Thursday approved the delegation of regulatory powers for 49 essential items to concerned provincial departments.

The decision was taken at an important meeting of the Price Control Council chaired by Salma Butt, Special Assistant to the Chief Minister on Price Control, who said the step would strengthen price regulation, improve coordination among departments and help stabilise markets across the province.

The meeting was attended by Members of the Provincial Assembly Muhammad Bilal Yamin, Chaudhry Javed Ahmed and Farzana Abbas, along with Secretary Price Control Dr Kiran Khurshid, Chairman Sasta Bazaar Authority Afzal Khokhar, Director General Enforcement Imran Qureshi and other senior officials.

During the meeting, two summaries were tabled for approval. The first related to the nomination of three private-sector experts to the Price Control Council, which was approved by the members.

The second summary concerned the delegation of powers and functions of the Provincial Controllers General/Secretary Price Control to relevant officers, and it was also approved unanimously.

Briefing the council, Salma Butt said the newly approved framework assigns clear regulatory responsibility for different categories of essential goods. She said the powers to regulate oxygen gas cylinders, surgical gloves, face masks, surface cleaners and isopropyl alcohol had been delegated to the Secretary Health.

Similarly, the Secretary Agriculture will oversee matters relating to seeds, grains and agricultural pesticides, while regulatory control over vegetable oil, ghee, mineral and filtered water, ice, tea, LPG, LNG and bricks has been assigned to the Director General Industries.

The council also approved the delegation of powers relating to milk, yoghurt, beef, mutton and eggs to the Director General Extension, Livestock and Dairy Development, while authority over poultry feed, live broilers and broiler meat has been vested in the Director General Research, Livestock and Dairy Development.

In addition, regulatory powers for sand, crushed stone, gravel, coal, cement, kerosene oil and salt have been assigned to the Director General Mines and Minerals. Oversight of wheat, flour, refined flour, naan, roti, bread, sugar, jaggery, paddy and samosas has been placed under the Director General Food and the Cane Commissioner.

Meanwhile, powers concerning all varieties of fruits, vegetables, pulses, spices and dates have been delegated to the Director General, Punjab Agriculture Marketing Regulatory Authority, while control over all types of fertilizers, chemicals and cotton will rest with the Deputy Director Agriculture (Extension), Punjab.

Salma Butt said the objective of the Punjab Price Control Council was to ensure advance planning and continuous availability of essential commodities so that supply disruptions could be avoided and price stability maintained across the province.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026