Sale in Ramzan Bazars touching new hieghts:Ahmad Ali

Lahore: Provincial Minister for Agriculture, Malik Ahmed Ali has said that 323.561 ton gram pulse, 30.080 ton gram flour, 803.851 ton potato, 719.128 ton onion, 85.360 ton lady finger, 77.977 ton bitter gourd, 86.704 ton round gourd, 77.093 thousand dozen banana, 144.658 ton date and 164.440 ton rice have been sold in 334 Sasata Ramzan Bazars and Agriculture Fair Price Shops throughout the province. He said that sugar, atta, fruit, vegetables, mutton, beef and chicken is also available at subsidized rates.

The Minister expressed these views while talking to media representatives after his surprise visit to Ramazan Bazars of district Rajanpur. DCO Ghazi Amanullah, Assistant Commissioner Ch. Mukhtar Ahmed, DCO Syed Agha Hussain Shah, Additional District Collector and other concerned officers were also present on the occasion. The Provincial Minister visited various stalls and checked rates, besides talking to the buyers and inquiring from them about the prices of the essential items. The Minister also checked the complaint register and visited first aid center of health department.

The Provincial Minister said that, on the directive of Chief Minister Punjab, daily use items, at subsidized rates, are being provided to the masses in Ramazan Bazaars in order to provide immediate relief to the masses hit by price-hike, as a result of which gram pulse is available at the rate of Rs.80 per kg, while gram flour is available at Rs.82 per kg, whereas these items are available in abundance at agricultural fair price shops.

Malik Ahmed Ali said that one kg packing of daily use items is also being made available, so that maximum number of consumers can benefit and no hoarder can take any advantage. He said that by controlling the profiteering of middleman, prices have been controlled at fair price shops, which has helped in checking increase in the prices of essential items. He said that the offices of agriculture department are conducting regular review of the quality of available items and their quantity. The Provincial Minister said that a monitoring office has been set up in Lahore for checking the performance of Ramazan Bazaars and directed the authorities of market committee to keep a strict watch on prices. Earlier, the Provincial Minister also checked the Ramazan Bazaars of Jampur, Fazilpur and Kot Mithan.