KP govt committed to provision of relief to people in Ramazan

F.P. Report

PESHAWAR: Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Mahmood Khan says government is committed for provision of relief to common people during the holy month of Ramadan.

Presiding over a meeting on Sunday, he directed the provincial Ministers to pay surprise visits in bazars and markets to monitor the prices of daily commodities on regular basis.

The meeting was told that one hundred and seven “Sastay Bazar” have been established in the province. 

Chief Secretary Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Saleem Khan, while briefing the meeting, stated that as per the directives of the Chief Minister, crackdown against hoarders and black marketers is underway in the province.

He stated that during the past week, 113 Godowns (Food Barns) have been sealed whereas warnings have been issued to 26 dealers. The Chief Secretary added that as a result of the crackdown, a total of Rs 152,000 fine has also been imposed since the past week.

The Chief Minister was also informed that 107 Sasta Bazars have been established throughout the province where commodities of daily use and edibles will be available to consumers at lower rates as compared with market. Furthermore, the district administrations have also undertaken negotiations with flour, Ghee, Sugar Mills and poultry associations who have also agreed to lower the prices at source during the month of Ramadan so that market prices may fall accordingly.

According to details, 15 Sasta Bazars have been established in Peshawar, 13 in Mardan, 27 in Malakand, 24 in Hazara, 11 in Kohat, 9 in Bannu and 8 Sasta Bazars in DI Khan. The Chief Minister was informed that in Peshawar, the per kilogram rate of Dates will be Rs 30-50 less, Ghee Rs 20, Sugar Rs 5, Apples Rs 30, Rice Rs 10 and Basin Rs 20 less per Kg than normal market rates in the established Sasta Bazars.

The meeting was informed that the PMRU has developed an online Food Price Control system through which citizen will be able to check daily prices of essential items and lodge complaints in case of overcharging or hoarding.

Citizens will also be able to get proper response from concerned Government officials in a stipulated time. Additionally, PMRU will generate weekly report against the set KPIs of price magistrates and will also ensure real time tracking of performance of price Magistrates through “KP Inspection Mob App”.

Similarly, District Price Control Committees have also been notified which shall conduct price review meetings to notify fresh price lists for every district, including the newly merged areas. The Market Committee shall monitor daily auction of all fruit and vegetable markets along with providing Price lists of daily auction which will be updated through “Price Module” Mob App. The committee shall also ensure that price lists of perishable items are timely notified on daily basis.

As for the role of price magistrates, the Chief Minister was informed that the Price Magistrates will inspect market on daily basis along with ensuring that complaints lodged through “Mobile App” are immediately responded.

Chief Secretary Khyber Pakhtunkhwa informed the meeting that multi-level price monitoring mechanisms have been installed with the help of technological intervention adding that the monitoring mechanism will be based on Price Control System (all districts to upload daily price lists), Price Fixation Module ( all price fixation officers to report geo tagged price lists from fruit and vegetable markets) and lodging of complaints related to overpricing(citizens can report overpricing through KP/Pakistan Citizen Portal).