Potato price will soon be down: Bilal Yaseen

Lahore: Chairman Cabinet Price Control Committee Punjab, Bilal Yasin has said that government has evolved a consolidated strategy for bringing the price of potato at reasonable level under which strict action will be taken against the hoarders and profiteers. He said that the prices of potato will be maintained at moderate level so that it could be available to the people at affordable rate during the whole year especially Ramzan-ul-Mubarak.

He expressed these views while presiding over a meeting of cabinet price control committee at Civil Secretariat Committee room today.

Members Provincial Assembly Rauf Mughal, Mian Muhammad Rafi Rajwara, Dr. Arif, Sheikh Allauddin, Rai Mansab Ali, Haji Nawaz, Secretaries of Food, Agriculture, Industry and Health departments and senior officers of other departments were present on the occasion.

The Minister directed that the prices of pulses be brought to a reasonable level and monitoring system of different markets be made further effective in this regard. He said that provision of essential items to the masses at cheaper rates is the priority of the government and no effort will be spared in this regard. He further directed that district liaison officers should remain vibrant for provision of commodities to the people at affordable rates in their respective districts. Bilal Yasin directed the commissioners to strictly monitor the weight of Roti and take strict action against those selling Roti of less weight.

Secretary Food Muhammad Aslam Kambo while informing the meeting about wheat and flour situation said that presently a 20kg flour bag is being sold for Rs. 730 in Sunday bazaars while at even lower than Rs. 720 in other districts of Punjab.

He informed that Food Department will soon achieve wheat procurement target. He said that there is no complaint regarding wheat procurement and gunny bags throughout Punjab while Ministers and MPAs are strictly monitoring wheat procurement centers.

Secretary Food informed the meeting that a visible decrease in prices of sugar will be observed in case of timely payment of sugarcane by the sugar mill owners to the farmers. He informed that on the instructions of Chief Minister Punjab, soon cabinet committee meeting will be held regarding timely payment of the sugarcane to the farmers so that a law could be adopted by the assembly regarding payment of sugarcane to the farmers.