Balochistan

K-P initiates measures to cut living costs

Reduced oil prices benefit public transport commuters

Our Correspondent October 19, 2023

The citizens of Karachi are boycotting fruit for three days to protest against the price hike in Ramazan. PHOTO: AFP

PESHAWAR:

The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) government has taken the initiative to convene a meeting of the provincial price control committee for the first time in a year. The primary objective of this meeting is to address the rising prices of everyday essentials.

Official sources told The Express Tribune that the committee’s meeting will focus on decisions to lower the prices of various items, including black and green tea, milk, yogurt, chapli kebabs, and other confectioneries. The decision to reconvene the price control committee was prompted by the recent decrease in petroleum prices.

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In a separate development, Barrister Feroze Jamal Shah Kakakhel, the Caretaker Minister for Information, Culture, and Tourism in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, announced a reduction in transport fares due to the drop in petroleum prices. During a press conference held at the Itlaa Cell Civil Secretariat in Peshawar, Kakakhel emphasized the government’s commitment to good governance and the well-being of the public.

He explained that following a significant nationwide decline in oil prices, the provincial government is swiftly taking measures to pass on these benefits to the people. As part of this initiative, transport fares will undergo a substantial reduction of 12 to 13 percent, starting in Peshawar and extending to other districts. Deputy commissioners have been instructed to oversee this process, and inspection committees will ensure effective implementation.

Kakakhel expects these changes to result in noticeable reductions in transport fares and the prices of various items in a short timeframe.

Kakakhel also highlighted the active role of the chief minister in these efforts, with the chief secretary providing directives to administrative officers. He emphasized the importance of strong leadership and transparent governance in ensuring the benefits of these measures reach the citizens.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 19^th, 2023.