Punjab Chief Secretary Major Azam Suleman Khan (retd) has urged the officers to ensure a strict monitoring of transportation and supply of the sugar from the mills in order to prevent hoarding.

He issued these directives while chairing a high-level meeting to review performance of officers regarding price control, check on hoarding and profiteering and monitoring of stocks of flour, ghee and sugar.

The meeting was attended by Additional Chief Secretary, administrative secretaries of different departments including food, industries, agriculture, and information, Commissioner Lahore Division, Additional IG Special Branch and Chairman PITB whereas divisional commissioners and deputy commissioners participated through video conferencing.

Asking commissioners and deputy commissioners about stocks at sugar mills in their areas, the chief secretary directed the officers to strictly monitor transportation and supply of the commodity to prevent its hoarding.

He also issued instructions regarding sale of confiscated stocks at market price.

The meeting reviewed performance of price control magistrates and district market committees. The secretary Industries briefed the meeting that during the month of January price control magistrates carried out 218,375 inspections and imposed a fine of Rs 50.8 million for overcharging.

As many as 788 cases were registered and 744 profiteers were arrested during this period, he added.

The meeting was informed that in campaign against hoarding, 1614 sites were inspected during the month of January and 98 wholesalers were fined Rs 617,000, besides recovery of 7,500 kg ghee, 430 flour bags and 3240 sugar bags.

The meeting was briefed that two companies for Lahore and two for Rawalpindi and one each for Multan, Gujranwala and Faisalabad have been hired for online delivery system and consumers are being provided quality edibles at affordable rates at their doorsteps in these cities. On this occasion, the chief secretary directed the commissioner Lahore Division to personally conduct field visits to check prices of daily-use items.