In a bid to transfer the benefit of reduction in petroleum products’ prices directly to the people, the Punjab government on Wednesday issued directions to all the administrative officers to bring down the rates of essential commodities and transport fares.
These instructions were issued by Chief Secretary Punjab Zahid Akhtar Zaman during a video link meeting of all deputy commissioners held at the Civil Secretariat. The meeting reviewed the prices of food items in detail and decided to establish a fruit and vegetable market in Rawalpindi.
Punjab Minister Ibrahim Murad showed his resolve to bring down the prices of the fares and also asked airlines to bring down the fares as the government gave massive reductions in POL prices.
The Chief Secretary ordered that the direct benefit of a drop in oil prices should be passed on to the masses. He said that the reduction in fuel prices would reduce the cost of transportation, adding that officers must ensure a significant cut in the rates of eatables and transport fares in proportion to the decrease in POL prices.
After consulting all the stakeholders, the Chief Secretary also asked the deputy commissioners to notify the new slashed rates of food items and transport fares. He said that the administrative officers have to work in a dynamic manner to control the profiteering and hoarding. He mentioned that the Special Branch and Urban Unit would continue performing the monitoring duties regarding price control.
The Chief Secretary said that the deputy commissioners must supervise the auction process in the fruits and vegetable markets themselves and keep a close eye on the supply and demand along with the prices. Industries Department Secretary Ehsan Bhutta briefed the meeting that due to the decrease in rates of petroleum products, the prices of commodities would start dropping in the next two to three days.
The administrative secretaries of various departments including industries, agriculture, livestock, DIG Special Branch, and relevant officials attended the meeting while all divisional and deputy commissioners participated through video link.
