‘Seal stores for overcharging’

LAHORE:The Punjab government Thursday decided to seal the stores and shops found involved in repeatedly violating government fixed rates.

The decision was made in a meeting chaired by the minister industries and trade Minister Mian Aslam Iqbal of Task Force for Price Control Committee at CM Office. The steps taken for ensuring the provision and availability of essential edibles in the markets and their selling at fixed rates were reviewed in the wake of Covid-19 pandemic.

It was also decided during the meeting to extend home delivery facility mechanism of essential items. The minister said that heavy fines should be imposed on store and shopkeeper owners for not displaying price lists. He directed the officers concerned and administration to ensure 100 per cent implementation on price control mechanism alongwith enforcing writ of the government and should give ample proof of their vigilance. The government machinery should also ensure availability of 20-kg flour bag at Rs 808/- everywhere across the province as no negligence and inefficiency will be tolerated in this regard at any cost, he stressed.

Aslam Iqbal directed district supply management committees to keep a strict watch on the provision and availability of essential commodities in their respective districts. No complaint relating to unavailability of any item should be surfaced and it is basic responsibility of administration to ensure selling of essential items at fixed prices, he added. Food Minister Samiullah Ch addressing the participants via video-link stated that problem of flour scarcity and hike in its prices occurred at few places owing to panic buying beyond needs which caused disturbance in supply chain mechanism. The functioning of Qeemat App Punjab and performance of price control magistrates also came under review during the meeting.