KARACHI, Oct 30: For effective price control during the holy month of Ramazan, Karachi DCO Mir Hussain Ali, through a notification, has ordered constitution of price committees at town level.

These committees will function under the town Nazims, while EDO (Revenue) and the TPO concerned will be among the members of the committees. The Town Nazim concerned will nominate more members as per the number of union councils in a town.

A meeting held under the chairmanship of the acting Nazim, tariq Hasan, agreed that price control could be made more effective with the cooperation of town Nazims.

The meeting was informed that meat sellers had, in a meeting, agreed to sell meat at Rs150 per Kg, but later they raised the price to Rs200 per kg, which was not acceptable.

The meeting decided that the CDGK would not be blackmailed by threats of meat sellers and would check price-hike with the cooperation of the Market Committee.

Speaking at the meeting, acting Nazim said that it was the responsibility of public representatives to provide more facilities to the people. Therefore, all elected representatives of the city should cooperate with the Town Price Committees, he added.

He said immediate action would be taken on complaints received at 40 complaint centres in the city, while DDOs (Revenue), who have been delegated powers of first class magistrates would conduct raids to impose fines on the profiteers.

He said these committees would also monitor the bachat bazars and check the prices.

Meanwhile, the city government, with a view to provide relief to the people, has decided to place effective check on the prices of edibles and has decided to take stern action against the profiteers.

This was decided at a meeting, chaired by the Karachi DCO and attended by all the DDOs (Revenue).

The meeting reviewed measures to keep the prices under control during Ramazan and the steps to be taken against profiteers, in view of complaints by the people regarding price hike.

The DCO, directing the EDOs that the people be provided relief, told them to use the provincial government powers for summary trail to control prices.

He also urged that the complaint centres, set up in collaboration with the town administration, be made effective.

The DCO also asked the DDOs to undertake constant checking in their respective areas and take action against profiteers as per laws.

He expressed dissatisfaction over the procedure adopted by the Market Committee for fixing the prices of fruits and vegetables on daily basis, stressing the need for determining such prices in a transparent manner.

He directed that additional officers be deployed for coordination with the Market Committee in this respect.

The DCO directed that during checking it be ensured that the price lists were displayed and the lists be also sent to the press in time, daily. He also visited various areas to check the prices.

Meanwhile, the Revenue Department of the city government charge sheeted 229 profiteers during the last two days. They imposed a total fine of Rs97,010 on shopkeepers indulging in profiteering. Of this amount, a fine of Rs55,410 was imposed on first day and Rs 41,600 on the second day of Ramazan.—APP