extra from the prices mentioned in the price list issued by the market committee on daily basis. For example, the price of good quality Mango is Rs 80/kg but in open market it is being sold at Rs 120/kg. The same is the case with other fruit and vegetables.
CDGL sources said the officers given magisterial powers were already over burdened as they also had to do the work of their own departments due to which price control had become their second priority. Sources said 104 magistrates are enough to control prices but the real problem is lack of will to take action against those involved in overcharging.
Sources said among the 104 price control magistrates, there are many who have not done this job earlier and none of them has been given any necessary training to handle the job’s requirement. Sources added majority of said officers did not know the law, the methodology of work of a special magistrate, holding a summary trial and awarding punishment to the culprits on the spot.
DCO Muhammad Usman on Thursday morning reviewed the performance of 104 Price Control Magistrates working on the implementation of officially notified rates of essential commodities and tracing out violations in regard with overcharging on essential commodities in open markets of the provincial capital.
After having profound review, DCO also showed his displeasure on the performance of many Price Control Magistrates and issued show cause notices to them, asking them to explain their position within three days.
The price Control Magistrates who were issued show cause notices included DO Agriculture Waris Thakar, DDO (OFWM) Muhammad Hussain, DDO Labour Shahzad Tahir, DDO (SW) Nisar Ahmed Bhatti, DDO (SW) Arif Mehmood, DDO (SW) Shahid Soroya, DDO (SW) Ashraf Janjuha, Naib Tehsildars Rana Shahid and Zulfiqar Ali Hanjara, DDO (OFWM) Faiz Ahmed Khichi, TO (I&S) Gulberg Pervaiz Haidri and Naib Tehsildar Azam Shahjan.
The DCO directed all Price Control Magistrates to visit their areas concerned by themselves instead of sending their subordinates to markets for price control. Moreover, the DCO visited Model Town and Township Ramzan Bazaars to check quality and rate of essential commodities. He went on different stalls and talked to customers about quality and rates of items which they termed satisfactory. He also visited to Badamibagh Fruit and Vegetable Market where he monitored auction process of fruit and vegetables under his supervision.
It is also worth mentioning here that CDGL sold 106920 kg sugar, 17186 ten kg bags, 24939 kg chicken in all Ramzan Bazaars of the city while as many as 28199 citizens had Iftar on 311 Madni dastarkhawans of CDGL.