An important meeting regarding control of prices of food items during the month of Ramadan was held in Sindh Secretariat under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary Sindh Syed Mumtaz Ali Shah.
Commissioner Karachi Muhammad Iqbal Memon, Secretary Agriculture Supply and price Aijaz Ahmed Mahesar, Secretary Food Raja Khurram Shahzad, Representatives of President Poultry Association, Flour Mills Association, Dairy Association, Flour mills association and Consumer Rights Association have attended the meeting while all the Divisional Commissioners and Deputy Commissioners have participated through video link. Prices of flour, vegetables, milk and other essentials were reviewed during the meeting.
In the meeting, Chief Secretary Sindh Syed Mumtaz Ali Shah said that the government of Sindh fixes the prices of food items in consultation with all stakeholders, this gives business community a chance to have their say and pricing notifications are issued after consultation. Syed Mumtaz Ali Shah further said that strict action would be taken against the violators of the rates fixed by the government and illegal increase in prices of food items during Ramadan.
“Profiteers and hoarders will face fines, shop closures as well as 6 months imprisonment” said CS Sindh. He directed all the Divisional Commissioners and Deputy Commissioners to send the price control reports to the Chief Secretary’s Office every day during the holy month of Ramadan, while the Assistant Commissioner and MukhtiarKars should be present at the auction of vegetables and fruits.
At the meeting, the representatives of Dairy Association, referring to the campaign on milk and meat consumption after Lumpy Skin disease, said that the campaign is being run through social media which has caused a lot of harm to the people associated with meat and milk business.
On this, Chief Secretary Sindh Syed Mumtaz Ali Shah said that the government is aware of the problems of Sindh Dairy Association and the government is working to eradicate Lumpy Skin disease. The government is providing vaccinations and medicines to prevent the disease, said CS Sindh.