No increase has been made in the prices of atta: Bilal Yaseen

Lahore:  Chairman Price Control Committee and Provincial Minister for Food Bilal Yasin presided over a high level meeting at Civil Secretariat, in connection with controlling the prices of essential items. Provincial Minister for Industry, Ch. Muhammad Shafique, Agriculture Minister Yawar Zaman, Additional Chief Secretary Punjab, Secretaries of Industry, Food, Agriculture departments and DCOs of all districts attended the meeting.

 

The meeting was informed that no increase has been made in the prices of atta and 20 kg atta bag will be available for Rs. 785 in the open market. The directed DCOs to ensure sale of 100 gram Roti and no compro

 

mise would be made on its weight.

The Minister directed DCOs to hold the meeting of district price control committee on weekly basis for monitoring the prices and demand of edibles. He further said that magistrates should be activated for ensuring the sale of daily use items on fixed rates. He said that presence of secretary market committee is necessary at the time of auction of the items in fruit and vegetable markets. He said that these items should be sold at the price fixed by the market committee.

 

He said that the lists of prices fixed for vegetables and fruits should reach DCOs at 8 am. He said that the cards of the prices of daily use items should be displayed at prominent places and the rates should be telecast by electronic media and local cable network for the facility of the masses.

Instructions were issued to all the DCOs for checking price hike, profiteering, reducing the difference between whole and retail selling in markets and keeping the prices of daily use items at reasonable rates in view of the increasing prices of electricity and petrol.

The meeting was told that earlier District Price Control Committees were monitoring prices of 19 edibles at district level and now ten more eatable items have been added including vegetables and fruits. During a briefing, the meeting was told that the number of District Price Control Committees is 136 in the province and Secretary Market Committee, officer of District Administration and EDO Agriculture will fix the prices of fruits and vegetables in the markets in morning and Price Magistrates will monitor prices of items in markets while EDO Agriculture will also monitor the demand and supply of fruits and vegetables in the market.

The meeting decided that the prices of poultry and milk should be fixed on daily basis and prices of daily use items be revised by the DCO of concerned district on fortnightly basis so that provision of edible items could be continued to the people at cheaper rates.