Staff Reporter
On the direction of Chief Secretary (CS) Punjab Major (Retd) Azam Suleman Khan, a new price control mechanism has been evolved to effectively monitor prices as well as demand and supply of essential commodities in the province.
The recommendations, constitution of a committee to forecast availability of edibles, establishment of model bazaars at tehsil level, creation of database of all stocks, installation of cameras in every fruit and vegetable market and digitisation of record of vehicles entry were presented at a meeting chaired by the chief secretary on Wednesday.
Speaking at the meeting, the chief secretary said that administrative officers would have to work diligently and actively to provide relief to people in a real sense.
He mentioned that profiteers, hoarders and adulterators would be dealt with an iron hand.
He issued directions to deputy commissioners to conduct surprise visits to fruit and vegetable markets and depute an officer not less than grade 17 as their representative to completely monitor the auction process in these markets.
The secretary industries department briefed the meeting that a crackdown on profiteers, hoarders and adulterators had been expedited in the province and 3,670 people had been arrested while cases had been registered against 3,957 besides imposing a fine of eight million rupees during the last month. “About 222 cases had also been registered against hoarders during the same period”, he added.
He maintained that 74 farmers markets had been set up across the province where farmers could directly sell their produce without intervention of middlemen.
The meeting was briefed that 2,205 out of 2,359 complaints received through Qeemat Punjab App were resolved immediately.
Administrative secretaries of different departments including agriculture, food, information, commissioner and officers concerned were also present.
