Minister food claims to set up 142 Sasta bazaars in the province

Lahore: Punjab Food Minister, Bilal Yasin has said that Punjab Government has setup 142 Sasta bazaars in 36 districts of the province to ensure provision of essential everyday items at fix rates, and these inexpensive bazaars would be operationalized from tomorrow. He said, as many as eight Sasta bazaars would be setup in Lahore, which would be gradually increased in view of future needs.

Minister Food Bilal Yasin was presiding over a high level meeting of Price Control Cabinet Committee at Secretariat, here today, during which, Agriculture Minister Dr. Farrukh Javed, Minister Industries Ch, Shafiq, members assembly, Addl. Chief Secretary, Secretary Information Moman Agha, heads of all departments and other concerned officers were present. Minister Food said that inexpensive bazaars would be setup in various districts of Punjab on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, where availability of everyday items would be ensured, in accordance with the rate fixed by the government. Minister Food Bilal Yasin said that, as a result of effective and timely steps taken by the government, a marked reduction in the rates of potatoes, tomatoes and onions have been registered, while the rates of fruits and vegetables are fast approaching to normalcy. He said, all magistrates have been directed to further strengthen price monitoring system in their concerned bazaars. He said availability of Atta, at fixed rate would continue to be made available to the people in Sasta bazaars, while quota of those flour mills which would overcharged, would be cancelled and action would be taken against them without any discrimination. Minister Food Bilal Yasin, directed the Special Branch authorities to provide their own data in this regard to Punjab Information Technology Board on daily basis, so that a comparative data report could be presented to Cabinet Committee in every meeting.

Punjab Minister Food Bilal Yasin informed the meeting that, on the directive of Punjab Chief Minister, Punjab Information Technology Board has prepared a software, which would help people to access rate chart of everyday items, through their mobiles. He said people would come to know about daily prices of essential items through SMS, toll-free number and internet website, while complaints could also be registered with DCOs in this regard, in case of overcharging, throughout the province. The meeting was informed that as many as 5624 patrol pumps have been checked in a crackdown against overcharging, while 49 patrol pumps have been sealed and a fine of Rs. 56 lac 24 thousand has been levied. The meeting was further informed that, from November till now, a fine of Rs. one crore 76 lack has been imposed against those who were indulging in profiteering of everyday items, while cases have been registered against 203 persons, in this regard.