On the report of Special Branch, the Punjab Chief Secretary took notice of the flour sale at higher than officially-fixed price and ordered the deputy commissioners to take stern action against the shopkeepers and dealers found involved in overcharging in Lahore, Gujranwala, and Hafizabad.
He issued the directives while presiding over daily-review meeting on price control here on Sunday. With the indication of those overcharging consumers for flour in Lahore, Gujranwala, and Hafizabad, the Additional IG Special Branch presented a report in the meeting.
The CS directed the officers to deal profiteers with an iron hand, saying that those fleecing people do not deserve any leniency. He said that as per the directives of the Prime Minister and Chief Minister, monitoring of prices and availability of essential commodities is being carried out through the Special Branch, Intelligence Bureau, and Urban Unit, adding that the identification of mistakes helps adopt corrective measures. He asked the field officers to review the quality, supply, prices of commodities, and other arrangements in Sahulat bazaars and make them better.
He ordered all the DCs to prepare a list of demand and supply of essential commodities in their districts for the whole year to make sure there is no shortage of any item. The short supply is the main reason for the increase in prices, he remarked. Another direction was about listing the major busy markets in cities to help narrow down the areas for inspections.
The meeting was briefed that as per the direction of Chief Minister Punjab, 339 Sahulat bazaars have been made functional across the province to ensure the availability of essential items, including flour and sugar, at discounted rates. Those among the present were: the additional chief secretary (south Punjab), secretary food, heads of Urban Unit and PITB, commissioner Lahore of agriculture marketing.
The divisional commissioners, regional police officers, deputy commissioners, and district police officers participated through video link.
