Hoarding, profiteering, adulteration: Maryam directs establishing Punjab Enforcement Authority

LAHORE: To check hoarding, profiteering and adulteration, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has directed establishing the Punjab Enforcement Authority (PEA). The decision was taken in a meeting held here on Saturday.

The authority will be established for the elimination of adulteration, hoarding and profiteering and the basic aim for establishing it is to ensure selling of edibles at fixed government rates to citizens. The authority will check the quality of edibles and also oversee the demand and supply chain. The authority will undergo checking for eradication of adulteration and will be empowered to impose fines as well. It will undertake measures with regard to adopting hygiene principles for ensuring quality of edibles during their preparation process. The authority has also been assigned the task to ensure strict compliance with rules across the province. Along with the administration, it will undertake essential measures for the elimination of encroachments.

Chairing a meeting to review overall performance of the government machinery on the Eidul Azha, Maryam said she was happy with the performance of her entire team. She appreciated commissioners, deputy commissioners, ACs and their teams for the excellent performance on Eid and directed them to dedicate one day in a week to solve public problems. She directed them to regularly visit hospitals and schools to report on building, electrical wiring and other issues. She added, “Every district should have a permanent control room for monitoring services like Eid.”

She also lauded Provincial Information Minister Azma Zahid Bukhari, Provincial Local Government Minister Zeeshan Rafique and In-charge CM Complaint Cell Shoaib Mirza. She noted: “The media, public representatives and people in general reacted positively to the Eid cleanup. Quaid Nawaz Sharif himself saw arrangements and appreciated the entire team for their hard work.” The chief minister also appreciated the sanitation staff. “Sanitation arrangements in cities, towns and villages are not only satisfactory but also excellent. After removing waste, roads were washed and sprayed with water mixed with phenyl and rose water.”

She directed creating a sustainable mechanism to provide basic food items to the common man at affordable prices.

Also, Maryam on Saturday condemned a bomb blast in Kurram. She paid tribute to Pakistan Army sepoys for embracing martyrdom. “Martyrdoms and sacrifices further strengthen the resolve of the armed forces to stamp out terrorism in the country.”

Meanwhile, the chief minister directed the IG Police to investigate the murder of PMLN leader Ghulam Rabbani in Chishtian and present a report. She offered condolences to the bereaved family.