Administration should ensure decrease in prices of eatables : Bilal Yasin

Lahore: Provincial Minister for Food & Chairman Cabinet Price Control Committee Bilal Yasin has said that government instructions with regard to controlling the prices of essential items should be strictly implemented. He said that District Administration should ensure decrease in prices of eatables so that relief could be provided to the people.

He said this while presiding over a meeting of Cabinet Price Control Committee at Darbar Hall, Civil Secretariat, today. Members Provincial Assembly, Secretaries of Agriculture, Food, Industry, Health and Information departments as well as DG Punjab Food Authority attended the meeting. The meeting discussed in detail government measures for checking price-hike and provision of daily use items to the people.

Secretary Industry told the meeting that due to arrival of new crop of potato, its price has reduced considerably whereas prices of onion and tomato are also decreasing. Secretary Food informed that magistrates have been activated for ensuring sale of sugar at Rs.57 per kg at district level whereas sale of milk, Roti and Naan are also being ensured at fixed prices. Provincial Minister was told that due to not sale of sugar under Ramzan package in Multan and Okara, the rate of sugar will further decrease due to sale of this sugar and it will be available to the consumer at Rs.47 per kg.

The Provincial Minister while issuing instructions regarding Sahulat and Sunday bazaars in districts said that DCOs should visit these bazaars in noon instead of morning on daily basis in their respective districts so that the process of monitoring of prices could be continued. He said that rates of essential items should be revised after noon and no compromise should be made on quality. The Minister disclosed that at present, nine lakh metric ton sugar is available in the stock whereas the crushing season is also going to start in next month, therefore, sale of sugar at minimum prices should be ensured.