Minister for Labour Raja Ashfaq Sarwar made a surprise visit on Friday to Ramazan Bazaars in Faisalabad.
He visited the Ramazan Bazaar on Samundri Road, Samanabad and Model Bazaar on Jhang Road and checked quality of food items.
He was accompanied by MPAs Mian Tahir Jamil, Madiha Rana, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) leader Mian Ghulam Hussain Shahid and DCO Noorul Amin Mengal.
The minister said there should be no compromise on the quality of fruits, vegetables and other items at the bazaars.
He told the management of the Ramazan Bazaars that immediate action should be taken against stall holders selling poor food.
The minister said the government wanted to ensure that the people faced no problems in Ramazan and special attention was affordable paid to Ramazan Bazaars.
“If we promise to sell good food at affordable rates, we should honour our commitment,” he said.
He said the government had a duty to control prices of essential commodities in the general market.
He said price control magistrates had been activated to check prices and they were taking action against profiteers and hoarders.
The minister appreciated the arrangements at the Ramazan Bazaars but added that there was room for improvement.
He also met with the people shopping at the Bazaars and inquired about how Ramazan Bazaars could perform better.
He said the chief minister had announced a package of Rs5 billion and the people were being provided flour, sugar and other items at subsidized rates.
DCO Noorul Amin Mengal informed the minister that the quota of affordable sugar had been increased by the government for Faisalabad.
He said regular monitoring of the Ramazan Bazaars was being carried out to improve the efficiency of the workers.
He said no one was allowed to sell fruits, vegetable and other food items of inferior quality and negligence in this regard will not be tolerated.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 12th, 2014.