Stemming the tide: Authority to be set up to check prices

The government ordered special price control magistrates to reduce prices, but they remained the same.

FAISALABAD:

The government has decided to form a new authority to deal with rising prices in the province.

Government spokesman Muhammad Niaz told The Express Tribune on Thursday that the rising prices had severely affected the people, especially the lower middle class. “The poor are unable to feed their children well due to inflation and price hike,” he said. Niaz stated that although the government had ordered the special price control magistrates to keep the prices low, the situation had remained the same.

“Several shopkeepers, hoarders and merchants raise the prices at will. We have also received complaints that some magistrates take bribes from the shopkeepers,” he said.

“The Punjab Cabinet Committee earlier prepared suggestions, proposals and recommendations for the establishment of an independent and separate price control authority,” he said.

“These recommendations were forwarded to the chief minister who has now ordered the formation of the authority,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 20^th, 2014.