M RAFIQUE GORAYA

LAHORE: The price control magistrates continuing their crackdown on overpricing and adulteration across the province conducted raids at 74,764 locations, lodged FIRs against 1612 persons and arrested 1462 people over profiteering during the past ten days of Ramazan in Punjab.

This was stated in the meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Ramazan plan 2017 at Civil Secretariat here on Thursday. Provincial Minister for Planning and Development Malik Nadeem Kamran presided over the meeting which was also attended by Provincial Minister for Food Bilal Yasin, Chief Secretary Punjab Capt retd. Zahid Saeed, MPA Haji Nawaz, Additional Chief Secretary, Secretary Industries, Secretary Information, Deputy Commissioner Lahore, and officers of Agriculture and Livestock departments.

The meeting was informed that as many as 2,886,175 flour bags have been sold in 319 Ramazan bazaars across the province. Fruits and vegetables are available at fair price shops of Agriculture Department in Ramazan bazaars. The number of Madni Dastarkhawans setup in the province with the help of philanthropists have reached 1870.

The Minister directed that to ensure availability of daily-use items on fixed rates strict check also be kept on the prices in open market like Ramazan bazaars, besides continuing the crackdown on overpricing in a vigorous manner.

He ordered that arrangements at Ramazan bazaars be improved with a focus on provision of basic facilities and cleanliness there; efforts of deputy commissioners and other officers concerned are praiseworthy for ensuring best arrangements for Ramazan bazaars, however there is a need for further improvement so that relief could be provided to people in the real sense.