CM’s directives: Officials asked to control prices during Ramazan

Shahbaz says 25 model bazaars will operate as Ramazan Bazaars

LAHORE: Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said on Friday a package costing billion of rupees had been announced to provide relief to people during Ramazan.

The chief minister, who is in London on account of heart surgery of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, asked members of the Provincial Price Control Committee to make sure that people benefitted from the package.

Sharif said Price Control Committees would be responsible for checking quality and prices of essential commodities across the province. He said a Rs5 billion subsidy package had been announced to keep flour prices down. He said a 10-kilogramme flour bag would be available at Ramazan Bazaars for Rs290 and for Rs310 at open market. A 20-kilogramme flour bag would be sold for Rs620 at open market, the chief minister said.



He said more than 300 Ramazan Bazaars and 2,000 Madni Dastarkhwans would be set up across the province to provide quality essentials at subsidised rates. He said 25 model bazaars would also operate as Ramazan Bazaars during the holy month.

The chief minister said concessions would be given on sugar, ghee, chicken, fruits, vegetables and eggs at Ramazan bazaars. He said the government would make sure that fruits of Ramazan Package reached the common man. He said price control committees across the province would take stringent action against the vendors overcharging their customers. Special powers have been delegated to price control magistrates in this regard, the chief minister said.

Sharif said DCOs would monitor auctions at vegetable markets. Provincial ministers and secretaries would visit Ramazan Bazaars to inspect quality, supply and prices of essential items. He ordered that arrangements be made at Ramazan Bazaars so that citizens could shop in a convenient way.

The chief minister said he would strictly monitor implementation of the Ramazan Package. “Every penny from the package will be spent on providing relief to the people,” he said.

CM reviews ADP

The chief minister chaired via video link a meeting on Friday to review schemes related to education, health and safe-drinking water under the next year’s Annual Development Programme.



He said the provincial budget would be pro-people under which health projects would be given priority. He said that besides industry, steps should be taken to strengthen agriculture. He said farmers would be given relief in the budget.

The chief minister said the Saaf Pani project would be completed early; potable water would be available in villages in the next two years.

Provincial Ministers Rana Sanaullah, Ayesha Ghaus Pasha and Malik Nadeem Kamran, the chief secretary and the Planning and Development Board chairman attended the meeting.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 4^th, 2016.