‘Monitoring of 18 essential items must continue’

The minister added that a vigorous crackdown should be continued against illegal profiteers, hoarders

LAHORE: Punjab Minister for Industries and Trade Mian Aslam Iqbal on Thursday said that monitoring of prices of 18 essential items, including flour, ghee and pulses should be done in all districts of the province.

In a statement issued on Thursday, he said that the line departments should keep a vigilant eye on availability, quality and prices of essential items as it's their responsibility to ensure their sale on fixed rates.

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Price-control magistrates should also remain active in the field and perform their duties diligently, he said. The minister added that a vigorous crackdown should be continued against illegal profiteers and hoarders.

He made it clear that any inordinate delay in redress of complaints received through the toll-free numbers was not tolerable and action would be initiated against the persons showing negligence in addressing complaints received in connection with the prices of daily-use items.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 25^th, 2019.