District Coordination Officer (DCO) Noorul Amin Mengal on Sunday took serious notice of mismanagement in fruit and vegetable markets. He ordered the market committee staff to improve administrative affairs within two days.
He visited the market in Saddar and Ghulam Muhammad Abad with Provincial Parliamentary Secretary for Social Welfare Haji Ilyas Ansari.
The DCO expressed his displeasure and dissatisfaction with the arrangements in the market and reprimanded the staff of market committee.
He said discipline should be maintained to provide a conducive and pleasant atmosphere to commission agents and vendors. He stressed the need for better cleanliness and the establishment of stalls for order.
The DCO also expressed concern over poor security arrangements. He said fool proof security measures should be taken. He said private security guards should be engaged for security in addition to deploying police.
Mengal warned that negligence and carelessness would not be tolerated.
Mengal and Ansari also observed the auction of vegetables and fruits in the market. They directed the market staff to issue a price list everyday.
They said retailers should be allowed fair profit.
Ansari said following a special directive from Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, a comprehensive price control mechanism had been introduced to prevent profiteering. He said he appreciated the efforts of the district administration to control hoarding of essential commodities.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 29th, 2014.