The divisional and deputy commissioners of the province will decide the prices of essential commodities during Ramazan under the Essential Commodities Price Act 2006. The assistant commissioners and mukhtiarkars will monitor and control the prices within their limits.
These decisions were made at a meeting presided over by Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah at the chief Minister’s House on Monday.
The chief minister took notice of some reports that wholesalers have deliberately increased the prices of essential commodities, such as oil, ghee, sugar, pulses, fruit and other items.
He termed the price hike as unlawful and against Islamic values. He also directed the authorities concerned to take strict action against profiteers.
The meeting was attended among others by provincial Law Minister Ayaz Soomro, Chief Secretary Raja Muhammad Abbas, Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Waseem Ahmed, Senior Board of Revenue Member Ghulam Ali Pasha, Advocate General Sindh Abdul Fatah Malik, Law Secretary Syed Ghulam Nabi Shah, Secretary to the Chief Minister Alamuddin Bullo and Additional Secretary Ali Hasan Brohi.
Shah was informed that to counter the menace of price hike, the provincial government has deputed special magistrates, who will pay surprise visits to the markets to monitor the prices of essential commodities.