Regulation: Ramazan plan finalised for Faisalabad

Secretary says Rs220 million allocated for subsidy on 13 <br /> food items.

FAISALABAD: Government officials would check prices of items of daily use during Ramazan and take action against those overcharging their customers, Industries and Livestock Secretary Nasim Sadiq said on Tuesday.

He chaired a meeting at Commissioner’s Office, attended by Commissioner Nasim Nawaz, Faisalabad DCO Noorul Amin Mengal, Jhang DCO Nadir Chattha, Chiniot DCO Shaukat Khan Khichi, Punjab Dastarkhwan Programme in-charge Haji Nawaz Khokhar and Grain Market president Asif Aslam.

“The government has made appropriate arrangements to ensure that consumers get items of daily use at fixed prices during Ramazan,” Sadiq said. He said the provincial government had announced a Rs5 billion Ramazan Package under which sugar and flour would be sold on subsidised rates at Ramzan Bazaars and fair price shops.

Sadiq said the government had allocated Rs220 million for providing 13 items, including fruits, vegetables and pulses, at subsidised stalls at Ramazan Bazaars and fair price shops.

The secretary said he hoped that traders would cooperate with the government and sell their merchandise at fixed prices. He said the authorities would regularly inspect warehouses across the city and take stringent actions against the hoarders. Sadiq said the government had been monitoring the supply of edibles at the city’s Grain Market.

Commissioner Nasim Nawaz told the meeting the district administration had a plan to provide relief to consumers during Ramazan. He stressed the need for liaison among the authorities concerned to ensure that edibles, including vegetables, fruits and pulses, were available at all Ramazan Bazaars.

Dastarkhwan Programme in-charge Haji Nawaz Khokhar said several iftar-and-sehar stalls would be set up across Faisalabad.

Earlier, the DCOs briefed the secretary about Ramazan arrangements in Faisalabad, Jhang and Chiniot. They said they had held meetings with representatives of grain and vegetable markets with regard to provision of essentials at Ramazan Bazaars. They said price control magistrates had been tasked with checking profiteering in their areas.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 10^th, 2015.