- CM says government spending Rs 3.5 billion to provide subsidy on flour
The Punjab government has taken special measures to provide quality daily use items to the people at reasonable rates during Ramzan, said Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif in a message to the elected representative on Wednesday.
He said that a subsidy of Rs 3.5 billion is being given for the provision of flour to the people at cheaper rate.
“It is lamentable that some traders and shopkeepers are causing problems to the people through illegal profiteering in their lust for wealth,” he despised, adding that the Ramzan bazaars have been set up throughout the province for providing relief to the masses by saving them from profiteering.
The chief minister said that effective and continuous monitoring is essential for achieving the desired results of the setting up of the bazaars and other steps taken by the government. He said that as per his instructions, all provincial ministers and secretaries are visiting the bazaars under a fixed programme during the holy month in order to ensure that food items are available to the common man at reasonable rates.
He said that he will continue making surprise visits to different Ramzan bazaars for this purpose.
“As elected representatives, it is your duty to play an active role with the help of district administrations concerned to provide quality edible items to the masses at cheaper rate,” he said.
He said that it is the right to earn profit but exploitation of the people cannot be allowed through illegal profiteering.
He said that elected representatives besides keeping a watchful eye on the elements involved in hoarding of essential items, should personally monitor the quality of daily use items in Ramzan and Sunday bazaars as well as extend all out cooperation for the success of Madani Dastarkhawan set up at various places in their areas for providing facility of Aftari to the poor and deserving persons.
TIME TO END SPURIOUS MEDICINES:
Meanwhile, presiding over a meeting regarding spurious medicines, the chief minister said that the heinous trade of spurious drugs will be controlled in the province and a vigorous crackdown has been launched for this purpose.
He said that he will personally monitor the crackdown against spurious medicines.
“The elements playing with human lives deserve maximum punishment and will be shown no leniency,” he said.
The chief minister issued instructions for early disposal of the pending cases against those involved in spurious medicines and said that the elements involved in the production and sale of spurious medicines are enemies of humanity and will be dealt with an iron hand.
He directed that deterrent action should be taken against the owners of the factories producing spurious drugs. He said that every effort will be made for complete elimination of the nefarious trade of production and sale of spurious medicines and directed that indiscriminate action should be taken against the persons involved.
