Punjab Chief Minister, Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that elements involved in hoarding, profiteering, adulteration and short-measuring deserve no leniency and stern action should be taken against them. He said that adulteration is a more serious crime than profiteering and the kingpins involved in that heinous business should be sent behind the bars instead of mere imposition of fine.
He said that all divisional commissioners should ensure supply of adulteration-free essential items to the people at reasonable rates in their respective divisions and a comprehensive system of monitoring should be adopted in that connection. He said that vendors should not be harassed in the drive against profiteering. He directed that all divisional commissioners should send a report to him on regular basis regarding the measures taken against the elements involved in profiteering, adulteration and short measuring.
He was presiding over a meeting regarding price control at Chief Minister's Secretariat, here on Wednesday. The meeting reviewed prices of essential items, steps against adulteration and short measuring and establishment of model bazaars in the province. Provincial Minister for Agriculture Malik Ahmad Ali Aulakh, Members National and Provincial Assemblies, Chief Secretary, Inspector General Police, secretaries of various departments as well as divisional commissioners were present.
The Chief Minister said that provision of pure food items to the masses in the era of price hike was the responsibility of the government and such measures should be adopted, which could stabilise prices and provide relief to the common man. He said that meat had gone beyond the reach of the poor therefore: effective measures should be adopted for the supply of pulses, vegetables, milk and other basic items to them at a reasonable rate.
He said that the elements engaged in adulteration in essential commodities were playing with innocent lives and deserved deterrent punishment. He said that the project of setting up food testing laboratories for taking action against adulterators should be implemented expeditiously and the existing laboratories should be utilised till the completion of the new food testing laboratories.
He said that steps should be taken on emergent basis for the establishment of new food testing laboratories and a detailed briefing should be given to him in the next meeting in this regard. He said that price magistrates should be fully mobilised for curbing profiteering and close co-ordination between different departments should be ensured for that purpose.
He said that besides setting up cabinet committee for price control and action against the elements involved in adulteration and giving a short measure, sub-committees headed by elected representatives should also be formed while police should extend full co-operation in the action against the offenders.
He said that a dedicated police force should be established for that purpose and Home Secretary and IG Police should submit a plan in that regard. He said that model bazaars would also be established by June for the supply of essential items to the masses at reasonable rates.
He directed divisional commissioners to establish a special helpline with the co-operation of local newspapers and cable network in their respective divisions so that citizens could launch complaints on specified telephone numbers against the elements involved in profiteering, adulteration and short-measuring.