Sindh to fix price at Rs61 per kg

Govt of Sindh decided to acquire 70,000 tons of sugar on an emergency basis.

KARACHI: The Government of Sindh has decided to acquire 70,000 tons of sugar from the Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) on an emergency basis and sell it in the market at Rs61 per kilogramme.

The decision was made at a meeting held on Wednesday at the Sindh Chief Minister House to discuss the rising prices of essential commodities, including sugar, in Sindh. Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah took serious notice of hoarding and black marketing of sugar and ordered all district coordination officers (DCOs) to act against the culprits.

Sources privy to the meeting told The Express Tribune that the meeting was informed that 3.75 million tons of sugar stocks were available in the TCP’s warehouse but no dealer was willing to acquire sugar from them. “The Punjab government will be provided 0.15 million tons of sugar while Sindh will be provided 70,000 tons,” sources said.  Sources said that the TCP would provide sugar to dealers at Rs56 per kg, which will then be sold in the market at Rs61 per kg.

Speaking at the meeting, Shah said that it was the responsibility of all DCOs and their staff to be vigilant against illegal profiteering so that people were not looted.

Shah said that DCOs were incharge of their respective districts as far as price control cells were concerned. He said that it was the prime responsibility of the government and its agencies to ensure proper and prompt control of prices of essential commodities.

He directed that hoarders, black marketers and profiteers should be fined and a charge-sheet be produced against them. He said that they must be apprehended under the Price Control Act and the anti-hoarding and profiteering law, for which executive district officers (EDOs) and inspectors must launch immediate action.

He told all DCOs that he would hold a meeting with them through video-conferencing at 2 pm on Thursday and asked them to be present in their offices. In the meeting, he said, he will inquire about the action taken so far.

It was decided that all DCOs will immediately present their requirements and give details about disbursement.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 11^th, 2010.