LAHORE - Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said that all out efforts should be made for provision of relief to the masses in the real sense in Ramazan Bazaars.
The chief minister expressed these views while presiding over a meeting through video link at Civil Secretariat on Monday during which measures for providing relief to the people through Ramazan Bazaars were reviewed in detail.
The chief minister said that besides Ramazan Bazaars availability of quality essential items to the citizens should also be ensured at reasonable rate in open market and bazaars and indiscriminate action should be taken against hoarders and profiteers so that people buying from open markets and bazaars could also be provided relief.
He said that quality essential items, fruits and vegetables should be available to the citizens in open markets and bazaars and Provincial Price Control Committee and Ramazan Monitoring Committee should play an active role in this regard. He said that purpose of setting up Ramazan Bazaars throughout the province is to provide quality food items to the common man at cheaper rate and a large number of people are benefitting from Ramazan Bazaars.
He said that PML-N government has given Ramazan Package of billions of rupees for providing relief to the people under which quality essential items, flour, pulses, fruits and vegetables are being provided at cheaper rates in Ramazan Bazaars.
Shahbaz Sharif said that exploitation of people through short weighing and measuring would not be tolerated. He said that it was responsibility of the Director General Weigh and Measures to take effective measures to check short weighing and measuring. He said that no one would be allowed to exploit masses and the concerned institution would have to perform its duties efficiently in this regard.
He said that interest of the people would be safeguarded at any cost. He said that people could not be left at the mercy of hoarders and profiteers.
He said that the districts making excellent arrangements with regard to provision of quality items to the people at cheaper rate during in Ramazan would be encouraged.
The chief minister directed that provincial minister, advisors, elected representatives and concerned authorities should regularly visit Ramazan Bazaars and keep an eye on prices and supply of food items. He said that it is our collective responsibility to ensure that the benefits of Ramazan Package should reach the citizens. He directed Provincial Price Control Committee and Ramazan Monitoring Committee to take immediate measures for removing flaws.
Shahbaz Sharif ordered that indiscriminate action should be taken against the elements short weighing in Ramazan Bazaars and open markets. He said that abundant supply of essential items, fruit and vegetables should be ensured. He said that fans and water coolers should be installed in Ramazan Bazaars.
Provincial Ministers Bilal Yasin, Farukh Javed, Special Assistant Arshad Ja't, Chief Secretary, Members Provincial Assembly, Inspector General Police, concerned secretaries and administrative officers attended the meeting through video link at Civil Secretariat. Fateh Khawani was also offered in the meeting for the brother of Secretary Food Punjab Dr Pervaiz Ahmed Khan.