Minister for Food suspends Inspector Market Committee for taking bribe

Lahore: Provincial Minister for Food, Bilal Yasin has said that provision of quality essential items to the citizens at concessionary rates in Sunday bazaars is a big achievement of the provincial government. He said that proper arrangements have been made for facilitating women and old citizens in Sunday bazaars while security has also been ensured. He said that measures taken by the government have discouraged hoarders and profiteers and credit for this goes to Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif.

He was talking to mediamen during surprise visit to Shadman, Wahdat Colony and Gulshan-e-Ravi Sunday bazaars. Officers of district administration also accompanied the Minister. Bilal Yasin said that quality daily use items at cheaper rates are being provided to the people through more than 400 Sunday bazaars in the province. He said that on the instructions of Chief Minister, essential commodities are being made available to the masses at cheaper rates in Sunday bazaars.

On the complaint of a consumer that Inspector Market Committee Khalid Siddique has taken bribe of two thousand rupees from a stall owner and allowed to display pricelist with two rupees in excess, the Minister suspended the official on the spot and ordered an inquiry. He said that if the allegation was proved, a case of corruption will also be registered against Inspector Khalid Siddique.

Similarly, the Minister ordered to cancel stall permit of Muhammad Javed who was selling substandard onion and potato. He also expressed displeasure over improper parking arrangements and said that it can also result in security problems.

The Minister warned that if junior staff can be suspended over negligence, action could also be taken against senior officials in case the condition in Sunday bazaars did not improved.

Replying to questions of consumers regarding increasing price of potato and onion, the Minister said that these vegetables are out of season however, their rates are still lower than open market. He said that the government is accelerating action against hoarders so that prices of vegetables could be reduced.