CS orders setting up of sasta bazars during Ramazan

Move to provide relief to people during skyrocketing inflation

PESHAWAR:

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Secretary Dr Shahzad Khan Bangash on Monday directed the home secretary, food secretary and all divisional commissioners to ensure provision of edible items to mass on subsidised rates during the holy month of Ramazan.

Presiding over a meeting to finalise arrangements for provision of edible items to the masses in Ramazan, he issued orders to set up sasta bazars and kisan markets in the province during the holy month so that people could buy cheap vegetables and fruits.

He directed the district administration, halal food authority and other concerned authorities to intensify inspections to ensure availability of food items and take strict action against hoarding, profiteering and expired items during the month of Ramazan.

Managing Director of Utility Stores Corporation (USC) Mehtab Banuri informed the meeting that utility stores authorities would provide two to three utility mobiles at the district level in K-P and all the regional managers of USC, in collaboration with the deputy commissioners, would deploy the utility mobiles at designated places.

During the briefing session, it was informed that the number of mobile utility stores needs to be increased so that more people can buy groceries at lower prices.

The food secretary maintained that flour would be available in 10 and 20 kg bags in the province, adding that last year 65 Sasta Bazars were set up across the province.

However, the number of the bazaars would be increased this year to provide cheap goods to the people.

The chief secretary directed the DCs of all the districts to ensure a price review meeting before Ramazan, finalise the price list of different commodities and maintain the weight of flour, sugar and other foodstuffs during the holy month.

He also directed the administrative secretaries to undergo visits from time to time to monitor the Sasta Bazars in the province.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 22^nd, 2022.