Ramazan bazaars: POL price hike won't affect food items' rates, claims minister

Provincial Minister for Industries and Trade Mian Aslam Iqbal has claimed that the recent increase of petroleum products will not affect the prices of essential daily use items being sold at 309 Ramadan Bazaars established across the province. "For the convenience of consumers, nearly 309 Ramadan Bazaars have been established in Punjab where the essential daily use items will be provided at subsidized rates like in 2018," the Minister claimed while addressing a press conference at Director General of Public Relations (DGPR) on Sunday.
"By constituting price control committees at provincial and districts levels, we have also appointed 1057 price control magistrates for the monitoring of Ramadan Bazaars," he said, adding that provincial ministers, advisors, members of the provincial assembly and secretaries will also monitor these markets.
He said all means will be utilized for the monitoring of these markets and a strict action will be taken against the responsible ones if they received any complaint. "The recent increase of petroleum products will not affect the prices of essential daily use items as the government will bear this load," the Minister stressed.
According to Minister the PTI government is also planning to deliver "Rashan Bags" at the door steps of those persons who cannot visit Ramadan Bazaars for shopping. The purpose behind establishing Ramadan Bazaars was to provide relief to common man, he added. After the 21st of Ramadan, he said, these makeshift markets will be converted into "Eid Ramadan Bazaars" wherein all the items related to Eid shopping will be offered at subsidized rates. In 2018, the Minister said the price of potato was at Rs 12 per kg in Ramadan Bazaars while the same price is today. Similarly, onion was sold at Rs 23 per kg in 2018 and the same price is today. Sugar will be sold at Rs 55 per kg and a bag of flour of 10 kg will be available at Rs 290.
He said that dates will be sold at Rs 175 per kg, a discount of Rs 15 will be given on good quality Ghee per kg and the chicken meat will be available at less price of Rs 10 per kg. Other essential daily use items including fruits, pulses and vegetables will also be available at subsidized rates, he added.
During the last government tenure, Mian Aslam alleged that the owners of mills enjoyed the benefit of subsidy, but this time strict monitoring will be ensured. No compromise will be made on the quality, availability and the prices of the essential items, he warned.
He said the government has also developed a mobile-based price controlling application in which consumers can lodge their complaints which will be redressed within two hours. "Chief Minister Usman Buzdar is himself monitoring the situation and all the commissioners and deputy commissioners will apprise the CM through video-link meeting on daily basis," he said. "The PTI government is standing by underprivileged people and we will strive to provide every possible relief to them within our resources," concluded Iqbal.