Punjab Industry and Trade Minister Mian Aslam Iqbal has directed the price control committee to keep an eye on the supply and prices of essential items in model bazaars and Sunday bazaars throughout the province. He expressed these views while presiding over a meeting of the price control committee, which was held here on Saturday to review supply and prices of essential commodities. Deputy Commissioner Lahore Saleha Saeed, the members of price control committee, representatives of trader organizations and concerned officers attended the meeting.

While addressing the meeting, the Minister said that hoarding and illegal profiteering would not be tolerated. "Strict action will be taken against those who are involved in creating artificial price hike. Only magistrate will visit market to check the prices of essential items. A member of the price control committee will accompany him," he added. He also directed them to take effective measures to check fictitious challans of the shopkeepers. "A system should be prepared that ensures that the fine money is deposited in banks," he added.

He said the members of price control committee worked in liaison with the district administrations. He also said the Punjab government was providing billions of rupees of subsidies for the provision of sugar to the masses at subsidised rate.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2019