Price control, food safety: Punjab steps up action ahead of Ramazan

LAHORE: The government of Punjab has intensified its price control and food safety mechanism across the province ahead of the holy month of Ramazan, with the Para Price Control Force and the Punjab Food Authority (PFA) finalising coordinated action plans to ensure affordable prices, uninterrupted supply and quality food for the public.

An important meeting of the Price Control (PARA) Force regarding the prices of essential commodities during Ramazan was held under the chairmanship of Special Assistant to the Chief Minister for Food Safety and Consumer Protection, Salma Butt. Sub-divisional enforcement officers from Lahore and all districts of Punjab participated in the meeting through video link.

Addressing the participants, Salma Butt said that the food safety and consumer protection department Punjab has completed all necessary preparations ahead of Ramazan. She stated that the PARA force would ensure the availability of essential food items at officially notified rates throughout the province during the holy month, warning that strict legal action would be taken against profiteers and those involved in overcharging.

She informed the meeting that more than 100 Ramazan sahulat bazaars and sahulat on wheels have already been established across Punjab, where consumers will be able to purchase essential commodities at 15 to 20 percent lower prices compared to prevailing market rates. Representatives of the Food Authority, she added, will be present at these bazaars to monitor the quality of food items and prevent the sale of substandard products.

The special assistant further directed the PARA force to take firm action against hoarding and artificial price hikes, while advising enforcement officers to coordinate with the food safety and consumer protection department before taking action related to encroachments and pricing in fruit and vegetable markets, in order to avoid unnecessary difficulties for wholesale traders.

She said that prior to Ramazan, all sub-divisional enforcement officers would be provided with detailed rate lists of essential commodities to ensure complete awareness regarding prices and supply. She also instructed officers to closely monitor both the availability and quality of essential food items in their respective districts and to immediately inform the department in case of any shortage.

Meanwhile, the Punjab Food Authority has also finalised a comprehensive Ramazan action plan with the objective that “every Iftar should be nutritious and every Sehr should be safe and of quality”.

Director General PFA Muhammad Asim Javaid said a province-wide monitoring plan has been prepared to inspect Sehr and Iftar points from the beginning until the conclusion of Ramazan. He stated that strict oversight would be ensured on food and rations prepared and distributed under the “Nigehban Dastarkhwan Programme”.

According to the DG, food safety teams will continue training and medical screening of food handlers working at sehr and iftar cooking centres, while food safety kits will be provided to handlers before the start of the holy month. Special food safety teams will operate in three shifts, with directors, deputy directors and field teams assigned specific responsibilities across the province.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026