Poultry price hike infuriates CM
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz gives a speech in the Punjab Assembly after the Budget Session. PHOTO: APP
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has stressed that the poultry prices should be kept in check to ensure that they do not rise beyond the reach of the common citizens.
Presiding over a special meeting on increase in the price of chicken, she said inflation of prices was not acceptable in any case and all relevant institutions should carry out monitoring in the field to protect the interest of.
The chief minister expressed great concern and anger over continuous artificial increase in the prices of poultry products in the province.
She directed the authorities concerned to set up a regulatory mechanism to determine the price of chicken.
CM Maryam Nawaz said chicken was among the most consumed food items and questioned the role of the institutions concerned to curb profiteering.
She said poultry items were widely used by people throughout the province and increase in their prices was not acceptable.
She said poultry businesses should earn legitimate profit but not overburden the people with price hikes.
The chief minister said, "Our people are aware and they cannot allow mafias to increase prices. We don't want anyone to suffer, but should we leave people at the mercy of mafias?"
Provincial Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, Information and Culture Minister Azma Zahid Bukhari, Ministers Bilal Yasin and Ashiq Hussain, and MPA Salma Butt attended the meeting.
The CMs Principal Secretary Sajid Zafar Dal, the provincial secretary and director general for industries and other officers concerned were also present.
During another meeting, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz underscored the importance of enhancing reliance on technology to strengthen the monitoring of the governments public service departments.
In the meeting with the Chairman of the Chief Ministers Directorate of Evaluation, Feedback, Inspection and Monitoring, Brig (retd) Babar Alauddin to discuss suggestions and recommendations for good governance and transparency at management level, she reviewed the process of incorporating public opinion into government decisions and policymaking.
The CM directed Babar Alauddin to devise a modern training mechanism for the administration and police. She said the establishment of performance index had increased the sense of responsibility in officers and it should be strictly monitored.
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif also said during a meeting with Punjab Assembly Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmed Khan that the provincial government was focused on providing maximum relief to the poor people.
The leaders had a detailed discussion on various development projects of the government in the province, political issues and matters related to the assembly.
She said poultry items were widely used by people throughout the province.
The speaker appreciated the steps taken by the Punjab government to rid the people of artificial inflation. He congratulated the chief minister on the successful test flight of country's first air ambulance.
Meanwhile, the chief minister inaugurated the upgraded OPD of Lady Aitchison Hospital and eye ward of Mayo Hospital.
She was briefed by Communications and Works Secretary Sohail Ashraf about the upgradation projects.
He said the number of operation theatres in the eye ward had been increased from five to 14. A recovery room and waiting area have been set up for the patients and their attendants.
The CM was apprised that new generators and lifts have been installed for the patients in the upgraded eye ward, which is situated on the hospital's 8th floor.
She was informed that the ground, first and second floor of the Lady Aitchison Hospital have been upgraded.
Modern medical and other necessary equipment have been provided in both the OPD and eye ward.