Interests of poor our priority: CM

LAHORE: The interests of poor consumers will be safeguarded at any cost and the government will fulfil its responsibilities in this regard, Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Shahbaz Sharif has said.

He said people could not be left to the mercy of hoarders and provision of sugar at the fixed rate would be ensured. He directed the authorities concerned to bring the confiscated sugar stocks in the market and sell them at a reasonable rate. He said Ramzan Bazaars had been established to provide quality edibles at affordable rates to the public during Ramzan. He said a special cell had been set up at the provincial-level to keep a check on prices while responsibility for monitoring the prices at district-level had been assigned to provincial ministers and secretaries. He said this during a meeting held to review measures taken against the elements involved in the hoarding of sugar.

Sugar: He said arrangements for the sale of sugar in Ramzan Bazaars at Rs 40 per kg had been finalised. He said easy availability of essential items at fixed rates in Ramzan Bazaars should be ensured and he would himself pay surprise visits to Ramzan Bazaars in order to monitor the arrangements. Earlier, the additional chief secretary and Food secretary gave a detailed briefing regarding the ongoing crackdown on hoarders and the measures taken for setting up Ramzan Bazaars. It was revealed in the meeting that there was no restriction on inter-district movement of wheat, but sale and transportation of flour bags that had been prepared for Ramzan Bazaars in the open market was banned.

Source: Daily Times