LAHORE: The Punjab government will set up 317 agricultural fair price shops during the sacred month of Ramazan across the province where 13 items including potatoes, onions, tomatoes and apples will be available at 25 percent discount from the general market.

As many as 30 Ramazan bazaars will be set up in Lahore alone for facilitating the faithful. This was decided at the second meeting of the ministerial committee held under the chairmanship of Provincial Minister for Industry and Commerce Mian Aslam Iqbal to finalize the Ramazan Package.

Provincial Minister Livestock Hasnain Bahadur Dareshak, secretaries concerned, cane commissioner and officers concerned attended the meeting while Food Minister Punjab Hamid Yar Hiraj joined the meeting via video link.

Various options of subsidy on flour and sugar were also reviewed. The recommendations of the Ramazan package will be finalized in the next meeting and sent to the Cabinet for approval. Stakeholders will also be consulted to finalize the Ramazan package, the participants observed.

Mian Aslam Iqbal while addressing the meeting said artificial inflation will not be tolerated before the arrival of the holy month. He directed that the administration and departments concerned should keep an eye on prices and availability of essential items. The provincial minister directed that an effective system of delivery and monitoring of flour and sugar should be adopted in Ramazan bazaars.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2022