Setting an example: Okara DCO removed over shoddy Ramazan Bazaar arrangements

LAHORE:

Following Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif’s visit to Sasta Ramazan Bazaars, the Okara district coordination officer was transferred and made an officer on special duty on Tuesday.

The chief minister had visited various bazaars to monitor prices and the quality of essential items sold to people during Ramazan. During the visit to bazaars in Okara, the chief minister had expressed displeasure over the inferior quality of edible items and state of cleanliness in the bazaars. He checked the quality of fruit, vegetables and other items being provided at subsidised rates.  A senior government official said that DCO Saifullah Dogar was removed over not being able to ensure availability of items of superior quality. Dogar had been on leave and out of town when the chief minister visited the district. Additional Commissioner Shahid Zaman Lak has been given the additional charge of DCO, he said.

The Punjab government had announced a Rs5 billion subsidy for the Ramazan Package this year.

On Tuesday, Shahbaz Sharif said that serving people was a form of worship and was pivotal to the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s politics.

He said the government had served the masses selflessly for the last six years. He said they had announced a historic Ramazan Package to provide relief to the masses. He said a subsidy of Rs5 billion had been granted to ensure the availability of flour at cheap rates. He said flour was being sold at subsidised rates in Ramazan Bazaars and the open market. He said ghee, sugar, pulses, chicken and other items of daily use were also being provided at subsidised rates.

He said the government had set up 346 Ramazan Bazaars to facilitate people and had made the best possible arrangements for consumers.

The chief minister said that it was the responsibility of lawmakers to ensure that underprivileged persons benefited from the Ramazan Package. He said that elected representatives should perform their duties by regularly monitoring prices, quality and supply of essential commodities.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 2^nd, 2014.