Govt vows to curb ‘artificial inflation’

Punjab Chief Secretary Jawwad Rafique Malik has said that Punjab government is taking steps to ensure the availability of essential items in the province.

He stated this during a meeting chaired by Punjab Industries and Trade Minister Mian Aslam Iqbal on Sunday.

Administrative secretaries of departments including food, agriculture and industries, Urban Unit CEO and Lahore division commissioner were present on the occasion whereas all the divisional commissioners participated through video link.

The meeting reviewed the prices and availability of essential commodities, especially flour and sugar, performance of price control magistrates, and the strategy to contain prices of eatables.

As per details available with The Express Tribune, the meeting decided to take unconventional and innovative measures to overcome the issue of price hike.

The minister said that to ensure the availability of essential commodities at government-fixed prices, a crackdown on profiteers was underway in the province. “During the current month, 47 persons were arrested and 42 cases were registered besides the imposition of a fine of about Rs6 million on violators.”

The trade minister further said that providing relief to the common people was the priority of the government.

He said the prices of vegetables and other commodities, including tomatoes and onions, should be closely monitored and the agriculture department must play an active role in ensuring the availability of these items.

“As per the directions of Punjab CM, steps would be taken under a comprehensive strategy to tackle the problem of artificial price hike. No laxity on part of government officials would be tolerated in this regard.”

Published in The Express Tribune, October 12^th, 2020.