The government has directed regional commissioners, regional police officers and district coordination officers to supervise the auction of fruits and vegetables early morning at all markets to prevent unfair trade practices, The Express Tribune has learnt.
The government has directed the district administration to enforce price control so that the profits for wholesalers and retailers do not exceed 15 per cent of their costs. Sasta Bazaars, where edible items will be sold at prescribed rates, would be established in all cities thrice a week, a Punjab government official said.
Regional commissioners, regional police offices and district coordination officers have been told to photograph the auction process and to send the videos/pictures to the chief minister as evidence of their attendance. After the prices are fixed, the rates will be announced on loudspeakers at all markets.
The District Price Control Committees (DPCC) will hold mandatory review meetings to determine the prices and supply of all essential items including fruits, vegetables and pulses. Each DPCC would fix fair retail prices on the basis of wholesale prices, demonstrated overheads and fair profit in consultation with the stakeholders.
The price of wheat flour has been fixed at Rs765 per 20kg bag. The wholesale and retail prices of vegetables, fruits and poultry items will be fixed by local market committees in consultation with the livestock district officer and the market committee secretaries. The market committee secretaries will report the prices to the DCOs and Agriculture EDOs at 8am.
The Agriculture EDO will be responsible for ensuring that retail prices of fruits, vegetables and poultry items are displayed on television channels and cable networks in their relevant districts.
The DPCC will organise and initiate magisterial monitoring to ensure the display of rate lists, commodity rate cards, adherence to the fixed prices and weight standards, and initiate action against violators. The DCOs will daily review the performance of price control magistrates.
The DCOs have been directed to promptly respond to citizens’ complaints about overcharging, quality and supply of essential items through a toll free helpline.
A many as 1,240 price magistrates have been empowered to fine and arrest violators under the Central Law against Profiteering and Hoarding 1977. They can impose fines up to Rs100,000 and sentences of up to three years imprisonment for overcharging or not displaying price lists.
Since November 1, magistrates have imposed Rs14 million fines, registered 136 FIRs and have arrested 65 people found guilty of overpricing and hoarding.
In Lahore, 62 FIRs have been registered since the beginning of the month, Rs3.08 million has been collected as fines and 23 people have been arrested.
The government has also directed relevant departments to formulate contingency plans for possible price hikes due to fluctuations in demand of food items, the official said.
Cabinet members have also been assigned districts where they would visit the markets to regularly to check the price normalisation. T
he cabinet committee on prices, chaired by the minister of food, has been directed to meet on a daily bases to review prices.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 27th, 2013.