Administration to ensure ample availability of food items in the markets

Lahore : Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has directed that provision of essential food items to the people should be ensured at every cost during the holy month of Ramadan. Effective measures should be continuously carried out to stabilize the prizes of items of daily use in subsidized Ramadan Bazaars and other market places, he added.

Issuing directions to provincial cabinet committee for price control here today, the Chief Minister said that it is the responsibility of relevant departments as well as the administration to ensure ample availability of food items in the markets. Therefore, they should proactively work to provide relief to the masses.

He said that provision of different eatables should be made available at fixed rates and their prompt supply in the markets should also be ensured. Crack down should be carried out against the illegal profiteers, he said.

He directed to initiate indiscriminate action against the persons selling eatables at exorbitant rates and made it clear that public interest is dear to him. The elements looting the public in the name of profit deserve no leniency and the alliance of hoarders and profiteers will not be allowed to exploit the people. Permission will not be allowed to increase the rates of essential items, he added.

He said that Punjab government has given historic Ramadan Package worth billions of rupees for providing relief to the masses and every penny of this package should benefit them. Elected representatives, field administration and price control committees should proactively work to help the masses to benefit from this package, concluded the Chief Minister.