Profiteers and hoarders will face fines, shop closures as well as six-month imprisonment, said Sindh Chief Secretary Syed Mumtaz Ali Shah chairing a meeting regarding control of food prices during the fasting month of Ramazan.
Stakeholders including representatives of poultry association, flour mills association, dairy association, flour mills association and consumer rights association attended the meeting held at the Sindh Secretariat.
Karachi Commissioner Muhammad Iqbal Memon, Secretary Agriculture Supply and price Aijaz Ahmed Mahesar, Secretary Food Raja Khurram Shahzad were present, while all the divisional commissioners and deputy commissioners have participated through video link.
The meeting reviewed prices of flour, vegetables, milk and other essentials.
Mumtaz Ali Shah said that the government of Sindh fixes the prices of food items in consultation with all stakeholders, this gives business community a chance to have their say and pricing notifications are issued after consultation.
He said strict action would be taken against the violators of the rates fixed by the government and illegal increase in prices of food items during Ramazan. He directed all the commissioners and deputy commissioners to send the price control reports to the Chief Secretary Office every day during the holy month of Ramazan.
Moreover, Shah directed assistant commissioners and mukhtiarkars to be present at the auction of vegetables and fruits.
Responding to the complaint of dairy farmers regarding social media campaign against milk and meat consumption after the outbreak of lumpy skin disease in cattle, the chief secretary said government is providing vaccinations and medicines to prevent the disease.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 25th, 2022.
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