Poor won’t remain at the mercy of profiteers: Maryam

Authorities told to expedite Ramazan package delivery

LAHORE:

Chief Minister Maryan Nawaz has directed the authorities concerned to expedite the distribution of Ramazan package among the needy families while maintaining transparency in the process.

A campaign against price hike has also been accelerated across the province, with the chief minister underscoring that the poor people could not be left at the mercy of profiteers.

According to a report issued by the industries department, price control magistrates carried out checking at 773, 000 places during the past fortnight and took action against 23,000 profiteers. Fines exceeding Rs62.2 million were imposed, 1,682 FIRs registered and 4,858 people arrested.

The CM said a recent trend of reduction of prices was satisfactory and hoarding would not be allowed under any circumstances.

Meanwhile, Punjab Information Minister Azma Bukhari said that for the first time in the country's history a step had been taken to provide Ramazan hampers at the doorstep of more than 6.4 million families in the province.

Addressing a press conference along with Punjab Food Minister Bilal Yaseen, she said that flour, sugar, rice, gram flour and ghee were included in Ramazan hampers. She said the Ramazan Nigehban package and model bazaars were running simultaneously to facilitate the maximum number of people.

She said the model bazaars had been set up for the first time in 15 districts, whole agriculture fair price shops had been established in 25 districts.

Azma Bukhari said essential items were available in the model bazaars at 25 per cent less rates than the markets. She said the price control magistrates were discharging their duties in the field after getting training and they were being monitored through a dashboard. "Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz believes in mitigating the sufferings of the people," she added.

Food Minister Bilal Yaseen said there had been no complaint related to the quality of items in the Ramazan hampers. He said the vendors who had been engaged by the district governments had been clearly told that if there was any complaint related to the quality of items, action would be taken against them as per law.

He said 50% target of distribution of Ramazan hampers had been completed.

Bilal Yaseen said that before the start of Ramazan, onion was selling at Rs350 per kg and now it was available at Rs250 and was likely to drop to Rs200 per kg. The auction process of onion, tomato and potato was being monitored, he added.

He said 1,400 notified price magistrates had carried out almost 300,000 inspections in the first four days of Ramazan.

The prices of main essential items would further reduce and they would be available at reasonable prices, he claimed.

He said that the quality and quantity of 13 items at the fair price shops would also be maintained.

(With additional input from APP)