LAHORE: The authorities are continuing the administrative measures to curb the smuggling of wheat and urea fertilizer and seized at check-posts in Mianwali and Bhakkar as many as 3410 bags of wheat that were being illegally shipped out of the province.

These details were shared at a briefing during a video-link meeting of divisional commissioners and deputy commissioners chaired by Chief Secretary Punjab Kamran Ali Afzal at Civil Secretariat. The meeting reviewed the prices of essential commodities, steps to prevent smuggling.

The Chief Secretary directed the deputy commissioners to keep a close watch on the movement of wheat and fertilizer in the border districts and continue monitoring the supply chain of fertilizers. He also asked the officers to take stern action against the fertilizer dealers involved in hoarding and profiteering. He said that those fleecing consumers by creating artificial price-hike deserve no leniency.

The Chief Secretary also issued instructions regarding strict implementation of restriction of one-dish and timings in wedding ceremonies. He said that in case of violation, action should be taken without any discrimination as per the Marriage Act.

The divisional commissioners gave a detailed briefing to the meeting through video link.

The meeting was told that to ensure availability of urea fertilizer at fixed rate, sale points have been established at union council level throughout the province.

258 open manholes in Rawalpindi Division, 936 in Gujranwala, 948 in Sargodha, 738 in Multan Division and 1042 in Lahore have been covered so far. The administrative secretaries of different departments including food, agriculture, and industries, Additional IG Special Branch and officers concerned attended the meeting.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2022