LAHORE: Punjab Industries and Commerce Minister Chaudhry Shafay Hussain has said that due to the government measures, there is a declining trend in the prices of essential commodities; a significant drop in chicken prices was seen in recent days.

He expressed these views while chairing the meeting of the Price Control Council on Tuesday. Punjab Food Minister Bilal Yasin, the provincial secretaries of food and livestock departments, the Special Secretary Agriculture, the Additional Secretary Commerce, the Director General Industries and other concerned officers attended the meeting.

The Minister further said that a draft of the Punjab Price Control of Essential Commodity Bill 2024 has been prepared; the Punjab Assembly will pass the new law by May 30 and subsequently, the price control committees will be made fully functional.

He directed the officials that the price control magistrates should be present in the field to monitor prices and practical measures should be taken in this regard. He further directed them to give a comprehensive presentation regarding the Punjab Qeemat App, adding that providing relief to the people and ending artificial inflation is the priority of the government and no effort should be spared for this purpose.

Punjab Food Minister Bilal Yasin said that establishing enforcement authority regarding price control is imperative; price control is a challenge and a new institution will be formed to deal with this challenge.

In the meeting, a three-point agenda was considered while the representation of the DG Industries and field officers in the Price Control Council was approved; it also reviewed the price control mechanism.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2024