Chief Minister Punjab pays surprise visit to Ramazan bazaars in Okara, Lahore

Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif visited Ramzan bazaars in Okara and Lahore on Monday to monitor the prices and quality of essential items being provided to the people during Ramzan-ul-Mubarak. A Punjab government hand out claimed that Shahbaz visited Ramzan bazaars without any prior information or protocol and even concerned district administration and office-bearers of Muslim League-N were unaware of Chief Minister's visit.
He also talked to consumers and inquired from them about the rates and quality of daily use items. The Chief Minister went to each stall in Ramzan bazaars and personally checked rates, quality and supply of edibles, fruits and vegetables. He took strict notice of non availability of chicken meat in Ramzan bazaar Okara and ordered concerned authorities to immediately address this complaint.
He said that a Commissioner who knows about his secret and surprise visit should also know that chicken meat is not being sold in Ramzan bazaar of his area. He expressed his displeasure over the fact that the price of sugar was not displayed at a stall and directed that the sale price of Rs 45 should prominently be displayed at the stall.
He checked the prices of vegetables, fruits, meat, and flour at the stalls as well as their quality. He took notice of haphazard traffic and encroachments at Mehboob Alam Chowk Okara and sought a report from Commissioner Sahiwal and RPO Sahiwal.
He ordered that the problem of traffic and encroachments should immediately be resolved. He directed administration to ensure proper quality and sale of essential items at the fixed rates during Ramzan-ul-Mubarak and warned that no compromise will be made in this regard. Shahbaz Sharif said that he will not tolerate any laxity or negligence in providing relief to the citizens.
Later, talking to media, the Chief Minister said that a comprehensive mechanism has been evolved for the provision of essential commodities at cheaper rates in Ramzan bazaars and the government will not allow overcharging during the holy month of Ramzan. He said instructions have also been issued to the administration and elected representatives that quality essential items should be available to the masses at reasonable rates in Ramzan bazaars.
He said it is not possible for him to visit every place personally therefore an effective system of information and monitoring of 346 Ramzan bazaars has been evolved and he will remain informed on daily basis. After his visit to Okara, the CM went to Ramzan Bazaar Township in Lahore. He took strict notice of the short supply of potato in Ramzan bazaar and directed administration to take necessary measures for increasing the supply of potatoes. He said the administration will have to ensure provision of necessary items to the citizens at fixed rates. He said that sale of chicken meat at least 20 rupees per kg less than the market rate be ensured and special attention be paid to the quality and prices of daily use items.