Ramazan Bazaars: Ensure sufficient stocks of sugar, wheat, says Yasin

Chief secy takes notice of complaints at Samundari, Faisalabad bazaars

LAHORE: Chief Secretary Capt (r) Zahid Saeed said on Monday that he had taken notice of complaints of how consumers visiting Ramazan Bazaars in Faisalabad and Samundari had been asked to show their ID cards in order to purchase sugar. He issued directions to the administrations there to ensure availability of sufficient sugar stock.

Saeed made the remarks at a meeting of the Ramazan Bazaars Monitoring Committee. Minister for Food Bilal Yasin was also present.

The participants were told that 9,452 metric tonnes of sugar had been sold at subsidised rates at Ramazan Bazaars in the first 21 days of Ramazan. They were told that the government had the same amount of sugar in stock and that was being transported to all districts ahead of Eidul Fitr. Yasin said this year, under the Ramazan Package, the government was providing 15 per cent subsidy on the wholesale price of fruit, vegetables, pulses wheat flour and sugar, among other commodities.

Last year, the government had given 12 per cent subsidy on these commodities. Yasin directed the local administration to ensure that sufficient stocks of wheat and sugar were available at Ramazan Bazaars in the last 10 days of the holy month.

The participants at the meeting were informed that more than 6,710 profiteers had been arrested and over Rs43 million had been imposed as fines on traders and street vendors giving short measure or overcharging. They were told that 4,769 FIRs had been registered against shopkeepers found overcharging consumers in the first 20 days of Ramazan.

Food Secretary Pervaiz Ahmad Khan, Industries Secretary Khalid Sherdil, I&C Secretary Farasat Iqbal, Information and Culture Secretary Raja Jehangir Anwar, Agriculture Marketing Special Secretary Dr Farah Masood and Chief Minister Inspection Team Special Secretary Fazal Abbas were present at the meeting.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 28^th, 2016.