Keep an eye on hoarders: Shahbaz

Chief minister says Ramazan Bazaars established to provide relief to the public

LAHORE: Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said on Wednesday that the government had taken special measures to ensure the provision of quality basic necessities at subsidised rates during the holy month of Ramazan.

The chief minister was addressing lawmakers. Sharif said the government was providing a Rs3.5 billion subsidy to ensure the provision of flour at subsidised rates. He said it was lamentable that some avaricious traders, shopkeepers and other elements had been striving to fleece the public.

Sharif said Ramazan Bazaars had been established across the province to provide succour to the people by protecting them from profiteers. The chief minister stressed the importance of effective and continuous monitoring to ensure that various government initiatives including the establishment of Ramazan Bazaars yielded positive results. He said all provincial ministers and secretaries had been inspecting Ramazan Bazaars following a directive by him to guarantee the provision of subsidised eatables to the people.

The chief minister said he had been paying surprise visits to different Ramazan Bazaars on this account too. He told the MPAs that he expected them to play a proactive role regarding the provision of subsidised quality eatables to the people in their capacity as elected representatives of the public. The chief minister said while everyone had the right to earn a profit, the government would not allow the people to be exploited.

He said lawmakers should personally monitor the quality of basic necessities being sold in Ramazan and Sunday bazaars in addition to keeping an eye on hoarders. Sharif said they should also strive to ensure that the establishment of Madni Dastarkhan across their constituencies for the benefit of those fasting from disadvantaged backgrounds proved to be a success.

Shahbaz chairs meeting 

The chief minister directed the government, the Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO), the National Transmission and Despatch Company (NTDC) and other relevant authorities to formulate a roadmap regarding the provision of uninterrupted power for the Orange Line Metro Train Project.

Sharif was chairing a meeting convened to review the route of the train and the supply of power to it. The chief minister said the provision of continuous uninterrupted electricity was crucial for the “mega project.” He said the project was a splendid initiative for the welfare of the people. Sharif said the project would provide the people with a speedy, safe and reasonably-priced mode of transportation.

Education Minister Rana Mashhood Khan, National Assembly Member Hamza Shahbaz Sharif, Lahore Transport Company Chairman Khwaja Ahmed Hassaan were among those present at the meeting.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 25^th, 2015.