— Directs best arrangements, prompt parking facilities for visitors at Ramadan bazaars
LAHORE: A high-level meeting was held under the chair of Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, which accorded approval to the Ramadan Package 2018 in a bid to provide relief to the people during the holy month. The meeting also reviewed prices and provision of essential items in the wake of Ramadan.
Addressing the meeting, the chief minister said that subsidy to the tune of Rs11 billion would be provided for the provision of subsidised flour to the people during the holy month.
“A 20 kg bag of flour will be available at the Ramadan bazaars and in the open market at the price of Rs500 while the 10 kg flour bag will be provided for Rs250,” he said and added that more than 300 subsidised Ramadan bazaars would be established during the to provide relief to the people.
Moreover, 32 model bazaars would also operate as subsidised Ramadan bazaars and as much as 2,000 dasterkhwan would be established across the province to provide free Sehr and Iftaar to those in need, said Shehbaz. He said that pulses, ghee, sugar, fruit and vegetables would be available at subsidised rates at the Ramadan bazaars and agri-fair price shops would also be set up where pulses and vegetables would be available at rates less than that in other markets.
The chief minister directed that effective measures should be adopted to provide essential items at subsidised rates to the people adding that best security arrangements should also be made at the Ramadan bazaars.
“Ample provision of essential items should be ensured and no complaints of any shortage should arise,” he said while adding that provision of relief to the masses was his mission and every possible step should be adopted to achieve the goal.
“The prices of essential items including fruits and vegetables should be conspicuously displayed at Ramadan bazaars and marketplaces. Digital price boards should be set up for the benefits of the visitors,” said the chief minister.
“Keeping in view the hot weather, best arrangements along with prompt parking facilities should also be ensured for the visitors,” concluded Shehbaz.
Later, the meeting was briefed regarding the arrangements of Ramadan bazaars. It was told that a trend of price stability of essential items and their decrease had been witnessed before the advent of the holy month of Ramadan.
Provincial Ministers Rana Sanaullah, Sheikh Allauddin, Dr Ayesha Ghaus Pasha, chief secretary, other secretaries and high officials concerned attended the meeting. Provincial Agriculture Minister Naeem Akhtar Bhabha and Agriculture secretary attended the meeting through video-link from Islamabad and Layyah, respectively.
