OUR STAFF REPORTER LAHORE The Punjab government has decided to launch a vigorous drive for checking profiteering, adulteration and ensuring standardised measuring, and in the first phase, an effective media campaign will be launched followed by action against the elements involved in such practices. This was decided in a meeting held here on Friday under the chairmanship of Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif. Members National and Provincial Assembly, Secretaries of Home, Agriculture, Health, Industries, Labour, Information & Culture as well as officers concerned were present. The CM said the elements involved in adulteration in essential items and the sale of spurious medicines were a blotch in the face of the society and deserved no leniency as they were playing with the lives of innocent people. He said the government was determined to take vigorous action against those involved in illegal profiteering, adulteration and short-measuring and special committees had been formed for that purpose. He said the committees would be fully empowered for proceeding against those involved in such heinous practices. The CM issued instructions for launching an extensive media campaign against profiteering, adulteration and short-measuring and warned that it would be followed by stern action against such elements. He observed that price-hike had been made the life of the common man miserable and in such a situation provision of pure edibles to the people at the fixed rates was the responsibility of the government. After terrorism and unemployment, price-hike and adulteration are the main problems of the masses. It is high time to root out the culture of adulteration, price-hike and profiteering. It is unfortunate that unscrupulous elements are playing with innocent lives through adulteration for their petty gains, he said, adding that the government had launched a massive campaign against encroachments in the provincial metropolis, which had provided relief to the people and the same spirit would be displayed in the drive against profiteers, adulterators and the elements involved in short-measuring. He directed Home Secretary to submit him a comprehensive road map within the next four days with the consultation of departments concerned for the eradication of spurious medicines and pesticides, profiteering and short-measuring in the light of which the campaign would be furthered. Shahbaz Sharif said committees had been constituted under the chairmanship of MNA Bilal Yasin for price control, MNA Khurram Dastagir for ensuing standardised measuring, and MPA Rao Kashif for eliminating adulteration. He added that these committees would have complete assistance of police and administration and would visit various districts of the province and evolve a strategy with the consultation of elected representatives, administration and stakeholders. He said imposition of fine was not a deterrent punishment for the elements engaged in adulteration and profiteering and they should be sent behind the bars so that they should realise how serious a crime it was to play with innocent lives. He also directed Secretary Information to evolve a comprehensive plan for launching an extensive awareness campaign in this regard before the actual drive, and besides arranging seminars, print and electronic media should also be utilised. Meanwhile, Shahbaz has said only those nations survive in the world that have the courage to live with honour and dignity. Charities of others will have to be shunned for real economic and political freedom. The Pakistani nation has to prove to the world that it can live without foreign aid and still put the country on the road to progress and prosperity, he said, while talking to Assembly Members here on Friday. The CM said giving up foreign aid was the desire of every Pakistani and it would prove to be the starting point of a national movement for sovereignty and dignity. He also said though it was difficult to refuse to foreign aid, but Punjab government had evolved a comprehensive strategy to further curtail non-developmental expenditure and promote the culture of austerity. There is a need to check loot and plunder of national resources and uphold justice. The provincial government will develop available resources for uninterrupted provision of funds for welfare-oriented projects. It is time to promote trade instead of aid as it is essential for survival, he said, adding that the situation demanded that the disastrous trend of relying on others was checked and the mistakes of the past were rectified.