Caretaker Punjab Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi has called for a comprehensive plan to provide essential commodities at affordable prices to the people during Ramazan.
He was briefed by the provincial agriculture secretary during a meeting about the demand, supply and prices of pulses, vegetables and fruits. The caretaker chief minister called for following the best practices to stabilise prices of essential commodities.
He said the departments concerned should prepare a working plan, including demand forecasting, to ensure stability of the prices.
The caretaker chief minister called for talks with the poultry association to propose practical solutions to reduce the prices.
He added that a plan should be prepared to reduce the prices of essential commodities for providing genuine relief to the people. Similarly, the price-control mechanism should be made more effective to create ease for the common people through an efficient system, he added.
Caretaker Provincial Minister for Industries SM Tanveer, secretaries for food and livestock, and other officials attended the meeting.
In another meeting presided over by the caretaker chief minister to review arrangements for the ongoing spring festival, it was decided that mahafil-e-sama and na’at would be organised at three locations in Lahore. Rahat Fateh Ali Khan would present Sufi poetry at the National Hockey Stadium, Qawwali events would be held at Data Darbar and other shrines and a mehfil-e-na’at would take place in Jilani Park, the participants were informed.
As per an official statement, the jashan-e-baharan celebrations in Lahore and Faisalabad are fully sponsored and there will be no expenditure by the Punjab government.
The caretaker chief minister also issued orders to ensure foolproof security arrangements throughout the province on Shab-e-Barat by deputing additional police.
He emphasised that special attention should be paid to the security of mosques and imambargahs.
According to a statement, he ordered that the best arrangements should be made for the safety of people going for worship. Law enforcement agencies should remain vigilant and maintain close coordination with each other, he added. Similarly, he stressed that the devised plan for security arrangements should be implemented without any compromise and strict action taken against unscrupulous elements.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 8th, 2023.
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ