Says comprehensive plan to curb price-hike, hoarding chalked out
Chief Minister Punjab Hamza Shahbaz has rejected the proposals to impose new taxes on the common man in the next budget keeping in view the price hike and made it clear that his government does not want to burden them.
While presiding over the meeting of the resource mobilization committee, the CM declared that reducing the problems of the downtrodden is a priority.
Instead of imposing new taxes, providing relief to the common man should be focused while expanding the tax base of the affluent; he said and invited to suggest out-of-the-box measures, including consulting the stakeholders, to increase the provincial resources.
Provincial Ministers Sardar Awais Leghari, Atta Tarar, Kh. Salman Rafiq, MPAs namely Mian Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman, Zeeshan Rafiq, SMBR, secretaries of finance, local government and excise departments, Punjab revenue, economists and others were also present. Meanwhile CM held video link meeting to overcome price-hike and hoarding.
A comprehensive plan of action has been chalked out under the chair of Chief Minister Punjab Hamza Shahbaz to curb price-hike and hoarding and tasks have been assigned to price control committees and deputy commissioners across the province.
While chairing a video link meeting of price control committees, commissioners, deputy commissioners and DPOs, the CM directed to hold daily price control committee meetings in DC offices across the province. It was decided in principle to set up a committee to reduce the prices of tandoori roti and naan and the CM directed that a uniform price list should be displayed at shops, stalls and markets.
The CM said that price control is a matter of service to humanity, and work should be done in such a way that citizens are facilitated. We are first and foremost accountable to Allah Almighty and then to the people; he remarked and announced to remain available in the field for monitoring price control. Ministers and officials should also come out, he added.
Welcoming the decision of wholesale dealers of Faisalabad who announced not to take profit on pulses, CM said it was commendable for the business community to support the government in its efforts to reduce price-hike in these unusual circumstances.
The price control magistrates should treat shopkeepers well and for this purpose, they should be given professional training, the CM suggested.
It is not our intention to harass the traders but to ensure price control; he explained and instructed to check the prices as per the agreed SOPs. Former chairmen and councillors of local bodies should effectively monitor the situation of price control across Punjab and the worst affected areas should be closely monitored on the dashboard of the cell set up in the CM’s Office, he further said.
The fair retail price should be determined keeping in view the ground realities.
Hamza Shahbaz directed the ministers and political assistants to monitor their respective districts and said that the monitoring of inter-provincial transport of flour should be intensified. DCs and price control committees should visit the markets along with the local media, he concluded.
Provincial Ministers Sardar Awais Leghari, Atta Tarar, parliamentarians including Bilal Yasin, Nadeem Kamran, Ramzan Siddiq, Marghoob Ahmad, Malik Khalid Mahmood Babur, Kh. Wasim, Malik Abrar, chief secretary, IGP, secretaries and others attended the meeting.
