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Tuesday, December 17, 2013
Prices of essential items reduced, says ShahbazLAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that timely and effective measures as well as comprehensive strategy of the government had substantially decreased the prices of essential items which had resulted in relief to the common man. He said a mechanism had been evolved for stabilising prices of essential commodities and administration and elected representatives would continue to play their effective role for keeping the prices of daily use items within the reach of the common man in future as well.
He was presiding over a high level cabinet committee meeting to review prices of daily use items, on Monday. A detailed briefing was given to the meeting on the prices of essential items and their supply and demand. Addressing the meeting, the chief minister said measures would continue to be taken for maintaining the trend of decrease in the prices of essential commodities so as to ensure their provision to the common man at the fixed rates.
He directed that indiscriminate action be taken against the elements involved in overcharging and no leniency be shown in this regard. He said that no negligence would be tolerated in the provision of quality essential items to the masses in abundance. He said that government had taken effective measures for checking the sale of essential commodities, vegetables and fruits at higher than the fixed rates and prices of daily use items have been brought down through a comprehensive mechanism. He said that government has set up 141 ‘Sastay Sahulat Bazars’ for the supply of essential commodities to the citizens at cheaper rate while Punjab government had also activated helpline 0800-02345 where citizens could lodge their complaints. Similarly, he said, 20-kg flour bag was being sold in Sastay Sahulat Bazars at ex-mill rate. The CM said that commissioners and district coordination officers were paying visits to Sastay Sahulat Bazars and also monitoring the process of auctioning in vegetable and fruit markets which had not only eliminated the role of middleman but provision of necessary items to the masses at cheaper rates had also been ensured. He said that visits of the members of National and Provincial Assemblies had greatly helped in bringing prices of essential commodities within the reach of common citizens and this process should continue in future as well.
The chief minister took strict notice of the sale of water-filled meat and directed the concerned authorities to take action against those involved in this practice without any discrimination as provision of hygienic meat was the duty of administration and no negligence would be tolerated in this regard. He said that action taken against the corrupt staff of market committees had yielded positive results and this process of accountability would also continue in future. He said effective measures had been taken for stabilising the prices of beef, mutton, chicken and eggs and any increase in the prices of meat and poultry would not be tolerated. The chief minister said the elements involved in adulteration in food items deserved no leniency. He directed that Punjab Food Authority, with the cooperation of concerned institutions, should take action against those involved in adulteration and all out measures be taken for the success of this campaign. He said that besides provision of hygienic food items to the people, there is also a need for effective implementation of the weight and measures system and a watchful eye should be kept on weight and measures. The chief minister expressed his satisfaction over the fact due to timely measures of the government, the prices of essential commodities were reducing and people had been provided relief.
Meanwhile, the chief minister took notice of the tragic incident of the murder of Allama Nasir Abbas, a leader of Majlis-e-Wahdat-ul-Muslimeen and sought a report from inspector general police. Shahbaz directed authorities concerned to spare no effort for arresting the culprits. pr
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk