Daily Times

Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Prime Minister Sardar Abdul Qayyum Niazi Monday took notice of flour shortage in different parts of AJK and directed the authorities concerned to ensure availability of flour in markets across the state. He said it was the responsibility of the government to provide facilities to the citizens during the holy month of Ramazan. The prime minister directed the authorities concerned to ensure full supply of flour at rates fixed by the government.

“Where there is shortage of flour, the officer stationed there will be held accountable for it,” the prime minister said, adding that no laxity would be tolerated in this regard and a strict action would be taken against those responsible. He also issued orders to the commissioners and deputy commissioners to ensure implementation of the Ramazan package. The prime minister said that it was the responsibility of the administration to keep an eye on the prices of essential daily commodities and to issue a checklist on a daily basis so that no one dared to raise prices during the holy month.

“The holy month of Ramazan demands us all to take special care of less privileged sections of the society so that they too can benefit from the blessings of Ramazan,” the PM said.

ICT admin imposes fine on profiteers: The special teams headed by Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) administration magistrates on Monday imposed fines of over Rs20,000 on 20 shopkeepers for overcharging customers.

The shopkeepers of various markets were fined during surprise raids conducted by magistrates, a spokesman for ICT administration said.

Islamabad Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Hamza Shafqaat said the ICT administration was ensuring strict adherence to rate list of food items in markets during Ramazan to clamp down on profiteering. He said stern action was taken against profiteers in the city, heavy fines were imposed on the offenders on the spot for overcharging. He said daily price-checking would continue unabated in the holy month.

Magistrate Model Town (Humak) made 13 inspections and imposed fine of Rs5,000 to shopkeepers on price hike. Similarly, magistrate sub-division sector I-9 imposed fine Rs15,000 for overcharging the customers. Magistrate ICT made 25 inspections and imposed Rs2,000 fine. Likewise, other magistrates inspected the prices of essential commodities and issued fine and warned as per law.

Assistant Commissioner, (Industrial Area) inspected shops and stalls in the jurisdiction for adherence to notified rates, display of price lists. All those in violations were fined. Assistant Commissioner, (Saddar) inspected the prices of essential commodities in E-11 and surroundings. The violators have been warned and fined.

Officials visit Ramazan Bazaars in Rawalpindi: Commissioner Rawalpindi Noor Ul Amin Mengal visited the Ramazan Sasta Bazaars set up at the Double Road and Committee Chowk to check the quality and quantity of food items and their sale at fixed prices.

Along with Deputy Commissioner Tahir Farooq, he checked the prices of commodities of daily use items and inquired from consumers about the prices, availability, and quality of essential items. Mengal said the promise of providing relief to the citizens through Sasta Bazaars made by the government would be fulfilled, and every effort would be made to provide maximum relief to the citizens. He directed the authorities to ensure the display of fixed prices of items in shops at Ramazan Bazaars.

The commissioner also asked to set up a control room to register complaints against the ‘Mafia’ minting extra and unjustified money from consumers in the name of artificially created price hikes. He said that strict action per the law would be taken against profiteers by conducting regular raids in the bazaar.

32 Ramazan Bazaars set up in Lahore: Commissioner Muhammad Usman Younis visited Ramazan Bazaars at Shadman and Islampura to review arrangements and check rate lists. The commissioner inspected cleanliness, security and parking arrangements besides checking quality of fruits, vegetables and essential commodities. He said the district administration had set up 32 ‘Ramazan Sasta Bazaars’ in the provincial capital to provide relief to people.

Sasta Bazaar inaugurated in Bajaur: Additional Deputy Commissioner Bajaur tribal district Zohaib Hayat Monday chaired a meeting to fix prices of edible items at affordable prices in Sasta Bazaars during the holy month of Ramazan.

The meeting was attended by Assistant Commissioner Khar Hamza Zahoor, Tehsildar Khar Bakht Jahan and Trade Union. Additional Deputy Commissioner Bajaur said that facilities should be provided to the general public during the holy month of Ramazan.

Meanwhile, on the direction of Deputy Commissioner Bajaur Iftikhar Alam, Deputy Tehsildar Salarzai Zakir Khan Afridi inaugurated the Ramazan Sasta Bazaar. Tehsildar Salarzai directed the dealers to provide basic items to the common people at reasonable rates during the holy month of Ramazan so that the people do not face any difficulty in purchase of items.

Officials inspect food stalls in Bahawalpur: Deputy Commissioner Bahawalpur Irfan Ali Kathia visited Ramazan Bazaar in Khanqah Sharif to ensure the smooth supply and availability of commodities on subsidized rates.

Assistant Commissioner Muhammad Tayyab was present on the occasion. The deputy commissioner inspected food stalls, flour, sugar, chicken, and agriculture fair price shops in Ramazan Bazaar. He said that food items would be sold at low rates in Ramazan Bazaar. He said that food items have been subsidized at fixed rates by the government in Ramazan bazaar. Irfan Ali said that price control magistrates should work actively throughout the district. He said that a 10kg bag of flour would be sold for Rs450.

He said that 13 items including apples, bananas, dates, lemons, okra, pumpkins, tomatoes, potatoes, onions, garlic, lentils, and gram flour have been subsidized in the agriculture fair price shop to provide relief to the people. He said that the prices of food items should be displayed properly and cleanliness arrangements should be made properly in Ramazan bazaars.