‘sastey bazaars’ to be held thrice a week:CM Punjab

Lahore: Punjab Chief Minister, Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that arrangements have been made for holding ‘sastey bazaars’ thrice a week for providing essential items to the people at cheaper rates throughout the province. He disclosed that quality essential items will be available to the people at cheaper rates and flour at ex-mill rate in 142 sastay bazaars starting from Friday. He said that nothing is more important than provision of edible items to the people at fixed rates.

The Chief Minister directed that no effort should be spared for keeping the prices of food items within the reach of the common man. He said that assembly members along with administration should visit vegetable markets in the morning and personally monitor the prices. He said that command and control system and a helpline should be set up for digital monitoring of prices. He said that immediate steps should be taken for setting up modern food testing laboratories under public-private partnership. He directed that there should be no complaint about over-charging in the sale of petrol throughout the province.

He was presiding over a high level meeting with regard to reviewing the prices of essential items throughout the province, here today. Provincial Ministers Bilal Yaseen, Dr. Farrukh Javed, Muhammad Shafique, Special Assistant Arshad Jutt, Members National and Provincial Assemblies, Special Assistants, Chief Secretary, IG Police, concerned secretaries and other officials attended the meeting.

Addressing the meeting, Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif said that concerned departments, administration and elected representatives should work hard with national spirit for ensuring availability of essential items in the vegetable markets for stabilizing the prices. He said that Cabinet Committee besides visiting districts for reviewing the prices and availability of daily use items should also take necessary steps for this purpose. He said that though due to effective implementation of coordinated strategy and vigorous government steps, the prices of essential items have stabilized, yet there is a need of taking further steps in this regard. He said that the mechanism adopted by Commissioner Lahore with regard to availability of items and monitoring of prices should be followed throughout the province and the task of stabilizing the prices and removing the gap between supply and demand of edible items should be taken as a challenge.

Shahbaz Sharif said that the market system needs reformation. He said that a vigilant eye should be kept on the administration and secretaries of market committees and strict action should be taken against the administrator or secretary of market committees found involved in corruption. He said that screening of price control magistrates should be carried out and hard working magistrates of good repute should be posted in the markets.

The Chief Minister directed that modern food testing laboratories should immediately be set up under public-private partnership and whatever funds required for this purpose should be provided. He said that ensuring availability of essential items in the markets as per requirements and stabilizing their prices is utmost essential. He said that an effective mechanism should be evolved for eradicating hoarding. He said that necessary steps should be taken for enhancing the production of vegetables and pulses and all out facilities should be provided to the farmers for this purpose.

Shahbaz Sharif directed the Cabinet Committee to fully activate the elected representatives of all districts for monitoring the prices, demand and supply of essential items and those assembly members not playing effective role in this regard should also be held responsible.

Shahbaz Sharif directed that strict action should be taken against the petrol pumps involved in overcharging without any discrimination throughout the province. He said that those petrol pumps owners who loot the people deserve no leniency. He said that action should be taken without bowing to any pressure and affiliation against the owners of petrol pumps involved in overcharging and be sent behind the bars. While seeking the report of action from the administration of the province taken against petrol pumps involved in overcharging, he said that the concerned administration will be accountable in case of any complaint of overcharging by petrol pumps in any district. He said that special teams be constituted for taking action against the petrol pumps, overcharging throughout the province.

Earlier, Chief Secretary, Secretary Industry, Secretary Food and Commissioner Lahore Division gave briefing regarding the implementation and the measures taken on the strategy evolved with regard to monitoring of the prices and supply of essential items. Chief Secretary informed that 142 Sastay Bazaars will start functioning from Friday throughout the province and 20kg atta bag will be available to the people for Rs. 765 in these bazaars. They also informed about the action taken against the petrol pumps involved in overcharging.