Price control: CM orders reduction in transport fares

Prices will be reduced according to decrease in petroleum prices.

LAHORE:

Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has directed departments concerned to take effective measures to bring down transport fares and the prices of essential items. He said the government was determined to provide relief to the masses. He said it would also ensure that the benefits of a stable currency and the reduction in petroleum prices reach the common man. He said he was acting upon a letter written by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to the chief ministers.

The chief minister said the Punjab government already had a comprehensive programme to raise the standards of living. He said sincere efforts were being made for the welfare of low-income people.

Sharif directed the relevant departments to harmonise the transport fares and ensure that prices of essential articles that went up with petroleum prices were brought down. He said this would provide relief to the masses.

He ordered price control committees to be set up at the tehsil, town and district levels. He said teams of special magistrates should be constituted to ensure the sale of essential commodities at fixed rates.

The chief minister said the law against profiteering would be enforced strictly. He said that elected representatives and local administration must ensure that quality of merchandise at fair price shop was acceptable.

Sharif said that he was aware that people had high expectations from the government. He said those elements overcharging the citizens did not deserve any leniency.

He said the economic situation was improving because of  the measures taken by the government. 

Published in The Express Tribune, April 2^nd, 2014.