Provision of items of daily use: 'Punjab government to give special package in Ramazan'

Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said that provincial government has decided to give a special package during Ramazan-ul-Mubarak for the provision of quality daily use items including atta, sugar, ghee and others to the people at concessionary rate.
He said that 1,176 price control magistrates will be deputed during Ramazan-ul-Mubarak for ensuring stability of prices and uninterrupted supply of essential commodities to the masses while price control committees and district administrations will also be activated throughout the province. He said that free Iftar facility will be extended to deserving persons and Ramazan Dasterkhawan will be arranged in Kachi Abadies, hospitals, industrial areas, bus stands and localities of labourers and workers.
He was presiding over a high level meeting regarding Ramazan package, here on Wednesday. Senior Advisor Sardar Zulfiqar Ali Khan Khosa, Provincial Ministers Malik Nadeem Kamran, Chaudhry Abdul Ghafoor, Chairman Price Control Committee and Member National Assembly Bilal Yasin, Members National and Provincial Assemblies, Chief Secretary, Inspector General Police, Secretaries of Home, Food, Agriculture, Livestock and Finance departments as well as officers concerned were present. The Chief Secretary, Secretary Industries and Secretary Food gave a detailed briefing about the measures regarding Ramzan package. Addressing the meeting, the Chief Minister said that price-hike has made the life of the common man miserable and it has become difficult for him to make both ends meet.
Under the circumstances, he said, provision of edibles to the masses at concessionary rates during Ramazan-ul-Mubarak has become of vital importance. He said that under special Ramazan package top quality atta will be supplied to the people in open market and Ramazan Bazaars at concessionary rate. Similarly, he said, provision of sugar, ghee, baisan, dates, potatoes, onions, vegetables and fruits at reasonable rates will also be ensured. He said that in order to provide flour at concessionary rate to the people, special bags of specific colour will be prepared on which the price will be printed prominently. He made it clear that no compromise will be made on the quality of atta to be provided to the people at concessionary rate and the best flour mills will be selected for this purpose and Minister and Secretary Food will personally supervise this process.
He said that the rights of consumers will be safeguarded at any cost and their exploitation will not be permitted. He said that in order to supply sugar and ghee to the people at reasonable rates during Ramazan-ul-Mubarak, owners of sugar and ghee mills should be contacted so that maximum relief could be provided to the people. He said that Ramazan-ul-Mubarak is the month of earning the blessings of Allah and the mill owners and traders should demonstrate a spirit of sacrifice for minimising the burden of price-hike on the poor masses.
He directed that arrangements should be made on the pattern of last year for provision of sugar to the people at the fixed rate during the holy month and negotiations should be held with Sugar Mills Association for acquiring 30 thousand metric tons sugar and Trading Corporation of Pakistan for obtaining 15 thousand metric tons sugar for the stability of sugar prices during Ramazan-ul-Mubarak. He directed that a comprehensive monitoring system should be devised for the availability of quality essential items at reasonable rates to the people in Ramazan Bazaars and besides vegetables and fruits, revolving fund should be utilised for poultry products and the fund would be further increased if required.
He said that management of Ramazan Bazaars should be excellent in every respect and hardworking and public spirited officers should be deputed for this purpose. He said that in order to provide essential items to the people at reasonable rates, model bazaars are also being established and these will be fully functional during Ramazan-ul-Mubarak in the areas where it have already been set up.
He said that free Iftar facility will be available to the poor and destitute persons at Ramazan Dasterkhawan during Ramazan-ul-Mubarak. Issuing instructions for increasing the number of Dasterkhawan from 500 during Ramazan-ul-Mubarak, he directed that maximum Ramazan Dasterkhawan should be arranged with the consultation of district administration, philanthropists, public representatives and chambers of commerce and industry.
The Chief Minister directed Chairman Price Control Committee Bilal Yasin to undertake a visit to all districts and fully mobilise District Price Control Committees. He said that provision of pure essential items is also the responsibility of the government hence the campaign against adulteration should be further intensified. He directed DCO Lahore to improve supply arrangements in the vegetable market which has been shifted from Kot Lakhpat to Kahna so that people should not face any inconvenience. He appreciated the services of Member National Assembly Afzal Khokhar regarding setting up of model bazaars and directed that number of these bazaars should be further increased so that quality essential items could be available to the people at one place.
Earlier, Secretary Industries Dr Shujaat Ali while giving a detailed briefing regarding Ramazan package and the arrangements made for Ramazan-ul-Mubarak informed that 325 Ramazan Bazaars, 2000 fair price shops and 500 Ramazan Dasterkhawan will be arranged in the province this year. He said that arrangements have also been finalised for the supply of quality vegetables, fruits, meat, cooking oil and pulses in Ramazan Bazaars. He also informed about the demand of sugar in Ramazan-ul-Mubarak and its current price in the market.
He said that an effective monitoring system has been devised for stabilising the prices and prices of daily use items will also be monitored through online system. He said that 1176 magistrates will be on duty during Ramazan-ul-Mubarak for ensuring provision of quality consumer items to the people.
He said that price control committees have been mobilised in all districts and the process of consultation has been completed with Divisional Commissioners, DCOs and departments concerned for maintaining the prices of consumer items at a reasonable level and ensuring their availability in abundance during Ramazan-ul-Mubarak. Secretary Food Ifran Ali gave a detailed briefing regarding supply of atta to the people at concessionary rate during Ramazan-ul-Mubarak.