Chief secretary seeks daily report on prices

Officials warned of removal from posts in case of misconduct

LAHORE: Officers should put aside fears of transfer, but inefficiency, misconduct, abuse of power and corruption would not be tolerated in any case and those found involved in such practices would be removed from their posts, Punjab Chief Secretary (CS) Jawwad Rafique Malik warned on Tuesday.

While issuing policy guidelines to the officers during a meeting at the Civil Secretariat, he asked all of them to work on a war-footing to implement government’s agenda to provide relief to the people while overcoming the challenges of coronavirus, dengue, hoarding, profiteering and protection of citizens.

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The meeting was attended by Senior Member Board of Revenue Babar Hayat Tarar, Additional Chief Secretary Shoukat Ali, Additional Chief Secretary Home Momin Agha, Commissioner Lahore Saif Anjum and administrative secretaries of different departments whereas divisional commissioners and deputy commissioners joined through video link.

The CS said special attention should be paid to stabilising prices of daily-use commodities as the facility of Ramazan bazaars could not be provided to people because of coronavirus threat this year.

He said that he would personally monitor all measures against hoarding and profiteering.

He instructed the industries secretary to set up a Price Control Cell at Civil Secretariat where divisional commissioners and deputy commissioners would directly send daily reports about prices of commodities and action taken against hoarding and profiteering.

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The top official of the province asked the field officers to ensure display of rate lists and seal the shops in case of non-compliance.

The meeting also reviewed the coronavirus situation in the province and measures to protect crops from locust attacks.

The senior member of Board of Revenue (SMBR) informed the participants that Locust Combat Programme was underway in 12 districts, including Bahawalpur, Dera Ghazi Khan, Layyah, Attock, Jhang, Rajanpur, Khushab, Bhakkar, Pakpatan, Okara, Sahiwal and Bahawalnagar.

“So far, 5,808 operations have been conducted and as many as 392 teams are taking part in the locust combat operation. Portable spray guns, tractors and other vehicles are being used to carry out the spray.” He acknowledged the support of the Pakistan Army in carrying out operations.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 29^th, 2020.