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Sunday December 01, 2024

PM visits market to check prices

Says govt committed to resolve gas, power crises; wants to know impact of cut in prices of petroleum products on daily use items

By our correspondents
February 09, 2015
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, while conceding that Pakistan is facing serious and complex issues like gas and power shortages, has assured the people that his government is committed to resolving all the issues.
Both the issues would be addressed during the incumbent government’s tenure. The government will overcome all the issues in the shortest possible period. He has announced that gas shortage would end within the next two years.
The prime minister was addressing the people at federal capital’s oldest market Aabpara and at G-10 commercial centre on Sunday. He conducted surprise visits to both the markets to inquire about the prices of daily use edible items personally. Additional Secretary to the PMO Fawad Hasan Fawad and MNA Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry were also accompanied the prime minister.
The prime minister, on the occasion, freely mixed with the people and asked about the prices of daily use items, including vegetables and fruits. The prime minister assured the people that the government was also taking steps to overcome other issues like unemployment. The people present there were surprised to see the prime minister among them without any fanfare or protocol. They highly appreciated his visit. They also lauded the government’s decision of bringing down the petroleum product prices.
Addressing a gathering, the prime minister said that he had come there to look into the impact of government’s public-friendly measures like a sharp cut in petroleum prices. He asked the people to pray for his success and pronounced that soon Pakistan would be on the path of progress and prosperity. The prime minister was apprised by an old woman that the prices of vegetables had come down significantly. A shopkeeper said that potatoes were being sold at Rs30 a kilogram against Rs80 a kilogram some two months back. Likewise, onion price now stood at Rs30 a kg, tomato Rs70 a kg, carrot Rs30 a kg and cauliflower at Rs25 a kg. A number of shopkeepers at Aabpara and G-10 markets replied to the prime minister’s queries saying that the cut in petroleum prices in the last six months had brought a substantial relief for the consumers with respect to prices of vegetables and fruits. The prime minister also listened to the issues of Aabpara shopkeepers and assured them that Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry would address their concerns.
During his visit to G-10 commercial centre, the prime minister also heard a government employee’s concerns regarding transport fares. Two kids also approached the prime minister and shook hands with him whereas a pushcart owner selling peanuts also expressed his satisfaction with the decline in prices of daily use items. On the occasion, the people raised slogans of ‘Nawaz Sharif Zindabad” Daikho Daoikho kon aya, Shair aya Shair aya.’