Do something about soaring prices!

Lahore High Court (LHC) on Tuesday sought a report from the Punjab government on formula to increase prices of vegetables, fruits and other daily-use commodities.

Justice Muhammad Khalid Mahmood Khan directed the government to submit the report by December 16. Earlier, the petitioner counsel submitted that the prices had once again increased sharply, and as a result, the public had to face serious problems in purchasing basic necessities of life. He said that it seemed that the government had turned a deaf ear to the problems of the common people. He said that the authorities were not implementing the law to control prices. He said that the purpose of law was not to punish anyone; rather it facilitated the public and every stakeholder. He said that the authorities concerned should be asked to explain the mechanism and policy existing at present to check, control and prevent increase in the prices of commodities at different stages, starting from farmer to the retailer. He said that the government should keep a check at each and every stage to know what was causing this increase in prices, because the ultimate burden would be on consumers.

The petitioner prayed the court to direct the government to explain whether there was any policy and mechanism to check and control prices of daily-use commodities, and also direct it to explain what penal action so far had been taken against those responsible of price hike.