[:en]OUR CORRESPONDENT
LAHORE: Industries Secretary Ehsan Bhutta has said that unscrupulous elements are trying to get undue benefit of the increased demand of essential food items in the market on the occasion of Eid ul Adha, by artificially increasing their prices and overcharging from consumers, which cannot be tolerated.
He was addressing an emergent meeting of officers of the Industries Department here yesterday at his office. He said that on the clear direction of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, the Industries Department has directed all divisional and district administrations, Special Price Magistrates and other relevant departments like Agriculture, Livestock and Industries, will make all out efforts to defeat the nefarious designs of the profiteering mafia. Therefore, line of action is hereby conveyed for compliance in letter and spirit:
Deputy Commissioners will monitor the supplies of vegetables and chicken in their districts and will take prompt action in case of any problem. Deputy Commissioners will mobilize all Special Price Magistrates (SPMs) during Eid days to ensure that they actually visit markets and take action against overcharging and non-display of rate lists. They will take action against those Special Price Magistrates who are not performing as per expectations.
Special attention will be paid to enforce notified prices of roti. Deputy Commissioners will also setup Monitoring Cells to monitor prices, supplies and working of Special Price Magistrates.
The Agriculture Department will monitor the supplies of vegetables & fruit and will address issues through Market Committees.
Live stock Department will monitor the supplies and prices of poultry items and take timely action in case of any abrupt increase in prices.
Industries Department will monitor the situation, coordinate with Depury Commissioners and line departments and will apprise the high-ups about the situation.[:]