Strict action will be taken against petrol pump owners for creating artificial shortage :Cabinet Price Control Committee

Lahore: Provincial Minister for Food & Chairman Cabinet Price Control Committee Bilal Yasin has said that strict action will be taken against petrol pump owners for creating artificial shortage due to possible reduction in prices of petroleum products. He said that all petrol pump owners have been directed to keep stock of petrol before February 1.

He said this while presiding over a meeting of Cabinet Price Control Committee at Civil Secretariat today. Provincial Minister for Agriculture Dr. Farrukh Javed, Members Provincial Assembly, Additional Chief Secretary, Secretaries of Agriculture, Industry, Livestock, Food, Health and Information Departments were present on the occasion. The meeting was told that raids are continuing against those selling eatable items at higher rates. It was told that 200 profiteers were arrested and imposed heavy fine during last week.

Secretary Industry told the meeting that at present, petrol is available at 95 percent petrol pumps in Lahore city and the buyers are not facing any difficulty. The Provincial Minister was told that 25 lakh litre petrol is being provided to petrol pumps on daily basis. Petrol pump owners have been directed to maintain stock of petrol on the night of January 31 so that petrol should be available on February 1 at new prices in abundance. The Minister was told that strict action will be taken against petrol pump owners for creating artificial shortage of petrol and their petrol pumps will be sealed.

The meeting was told that due to strict monitoring, LPG prices have reduced considerably and people were provided relief. Bilal Yasin directed that inspection should be made more effective for taking the profiteers to task and no negligence should be shown in this regard. He said that all out steps should be taken for providing relief of reduction in prices of petrol to the people. He said that flour is available at fixed prices in abundance and there is no possibility of increase in the price of flour or shortage of wheat in the near future in the province.

The Food Minister disclosed that Punjab government with the cooperation of federal government is making arrangements for exporting extra more than one lakh metric ton wheat for earning foreign exchange. He said that government has fixed the prices of 20kg flour bag at Rs:760 by reducing its prices from Rs:785/- from December 30, 2014. He directed the administration that besides petrol, immediate steps should be taken for decreasing the prices of tea and mobile oil.