Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has said that effective measures have been taken to provide essential items of daily use including fruits, vegetables and pulses at government fixed rates to the people during the holy month of Ramzan. He added that the Punjab government has given relief to the people in the form of Ramzan Package worth over Rs 9 billion.
The people have been provided with relief in the real sense of the term, he said, in the shape of subsidized flour for which Rs 8.78 billion subsidy has been given. It is heartening that the people have been fully benefitting from this Ramzan Package, the CM said.
He said that it is the responsibility of the administration to ensure ample supply of essential items in Ramzan bazaars as well as in the open markets at rates that have been set by the government. He warned that he has personally been supervising the steps taken for providing relief to the people and if anyone tries to hoard edibles, he will take strict action against them.
He made it clear that no one would be allowed to play with the interests of the people or indulge in profiteering. Strict legal action would be initiated against such elements, warned the chief minister.
While issuing directions to the cabinet committee for price control, the chief minister said that different steps for providing relief to the people under the Ramzan Package should continue, consistently. He said that the Punjab government has given special powers to price control magistrates for taking action against profiteers and hoarders throughout the province. The purpose, he said, is to save the people from exploitation at the hands of the salesmen.
Providing relief to the poor people of the society is a noble service. Public representatives, administration as well as the police should, therefore, work hard and leave no stone unturned in providing relief to the common man, concluded the chief minister.
