An official said that there is serious concern over disproportionate increase in prices of various items, especially essential commodities, after the presentation of budget, which was also highlighted by the media, and the government is planning to launch a crackdown against hoarders and profiteers.
On Monday last, Minister of State for Revenue Hammad Azhar told a parliamentary penal that a crackdown would be launched against those involved in hoarding of sugar for profiteering after the approval of the budget and provinces would also be taken on board in this regard.
The prime minister's Office stated on Thursday that effective implementation of local and special laws concerning efficient service delivery and relief to the general public is one of the prime responsibilities of field administration. However, lack of coordination among various stakeholders, poor understanding/implementation and indifferent attitude have established redundancy of these laws, thus increasing sufferings of the general public.
The prime minister has desired that a special campaign to control price hike may be launched and a strategy should be devised by all concerned stakeholders to implement price control laws effectively from the wholesale markets to retail shops.
The price and market control committees would be made more effective and they should take stern actions against the violators under the law, while field officers must frequently visit the wholesale markets and be present there at the time of auctions to determine realistic rates of commodities.
He also desired that all the provincial secretaries must frequently pay surprise visits to the districts and Special Branch would report daily about implementation of directives to the chief minister and chief secretary concerned.
The prime minister also wanted that the mechanism should be developed to check unscrupulous elements which charge disproportionate prices without sufficient cause and strict action must be taken against hoarding.
The price control committees would notify the rates of essential commodities regularly and the same shall be implemented effectively, and, a performance evaluation mechanism with reward and punishment be developed to ensure success of this campaign as well as action taken on the above directions shall be intimated to this office within seven days for perusal of the Prime Minister.