On the directives of the Prime Minister, the Punjab government has made fully functional 223 Sahulat bazaars across the province to ensure availability of essential commodities, especially flour and sugar, at fixed rates.
This was explained at a briefing during the daily review meeting on price control chaired by the Chief Secretary Jawad Rafique Malik.
The additional chief secretary (Home), administrative secretaries of the food and industries department, Chairman PITB, and Commissioner Lahore attended the meeting whereas all other divisional commissioners, RPOs, deputy commissioners, and DPOs participated through video conferencing.
The meeting reviewed steps to control prices and ensure availability of eatables, particularly flour and sugar.
The CS told the participants that establishment of Sahulat bazaars aimed at providing relief to the common man as well as normalize prices in the open market. As many as 396 Sahulat bazaars would be set up throughout the province under the directives of the Punjab chief minister, he maintained.
The CS directed the deputy commissioners to personally supervise the auction process at fruits and vegetable markets, besides keeping an eye on the entire supply chain to curb hoarding.
Asking the officers to deal hoarders with an iron hand, he said that those fleecing consumers deserve no leniency.
