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GUJRANWALA, May 12: The local chamber of commerce and industry and other organizations of traders and domestic consumers have strongly protested against the seven paisa per unit raise in power tariff.
Speaking at a meeting here on Monday presided over by GCCI president Khawaja Tahir Hassan, the traders alleged that the government was toeing the line of international donor agencies instead of providing relief to its people.
They expressed their apprehension that hundreds of labourers would be rendered jobless with the closure of small industrial units in the wake of time and again raise in the power tariff.
On the one side the government wished to boost the national economy by developing the industrial sector while on the other it was creating hurdles in the way of country’s progress and prosperity, they said.
They demanded that the government should immediately withdraw the increase in power tariff in the larger national interest.
CHECKING: The provincial Law Minister on Monday checked the records of food godowns at Kamoki in connection with an inquiry ordered by the Punjab chief minister.
The minister also warned food officials that corruption in the process of wheat procurement would not be tolerated.
Dr Sohail Zafer Cheema, an advisor to the chief minister, had informed the CM that food officials were involved in the corruption and were storing wheat in godowns at Kamoki, Wahando and other areas.
At this, the chief minister inducted Law Minister Muhammad Basharat Raja to check the record of food officials by paying surprise visits there.
The law minister will submit his report to the chief minister within next two days. Senior food officers, DDO (Revenue) Sheikh Najeeb Aslam, DPO Saud Aziz and other officials were also present on the occasion.
Senior food officers told the minister that wheat price had fetched upto Rs310 per 40kg in the open market. Therefore, they claimed that farmers were not taking interest to sell their produce to the Food department on the government fixed rate of Rs300 per 40kg.
However, they pointed out that 26 per cent wheat procurement target had so far been achieved in the district.
