Fair price: 350 Ramazan Bazaars to be set up in province

LAHORE:

The provincial government has decided to set up Ramazan Bazaars from June 3.

The decision was reached during a meeting chaired by Chief Secretary Capt (r) Zahid Saeed at Civil Secretariat on Monday.

Saeed reviewed prices of essential commodities and Ramazan Package arrangements. He ordered measures to monitor the quality, supply and prices of eatables. He directed divisional commissioners to launch a crackdown on profiteers ahead of the holy month.

The chief secretary said that rate lists should be displayed at all shops. He said elected representatives could play a vital role in controlling prices of commodities. He said that under the provincial Ramazan package, flour, sugar, pulses, ghee, vegetables and fruits would be available at subsidised rates during the holy month. Briefing the meeting, the industries secretary said 350 Ramazan Bazaars would be set up across the province. He said the Agriculture Department would establish fair price shops in these bazaars. He said that 1,642 price control magistrates would be on duty during the month. He said that 2,000 Madni Dastarkhwans would be set up across the province offering sehr and iftar meals.

MPA Haji Nawaz, Additional Chief Secretary Shumail Ahmad Khwaja, food and finance secretaries and the Lahore commissioner attended the meeting.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 3^rd, 2016.