The Lahore High Court on Tuesday has sought reply from the Punjab government till June 6, in a petition challenging the increase in prices during Ramazan.
Justice Shams Mahmood Mirza heard the petition filed by judicial activism panel.
Advocate Azhar Siddique argued that the prices of daily-used commodities should be at nominal level but the ones actively involved in hoarding and blackmailing are responsible for price hike during the holy month of Ramazan.
He stated that the prices of daily-used commodities are once again going out of reach of a common man on account of the upcoming month.
He asserted that the government has failed to control the massive hoarding, black-marketing and profiteering by traders.
In the western countries, the prices of the commodities are brought to a nominal level with the start of this holy month but in Pakistan, prices increase every year, he submitted. This causes problem and hardship to the common man, he added.
He requested to issue directions to the secretaries of various industries, to place before this court, the manner and mechanism for fixing and controlling the prices in Ramazan.
