23 May 2004	Sunday	03 Rabi-us-Saani 1425

KARACHI, May 22: Taking notice of the exhorbitant prices of various edible items, a high-level meeting of the Price Control Committee, presided over by acting City Nazim Tariq Hasan on Saturday discussed in detail a proposal to amend the rules regarding price controlling mechanism.

The acting city nazim directed the committee to submit by-laws regarding cancellation of trade licences as provided under the SLGO within three days.

Tariq Hasan pointed out that shopkeepers were overcharging buyers giving rise to resentment among citizens. He added that meat prices remained uncontrolled so far, while milk was being sold at Rs25 per litre.

He directed that shopkeepers should not be allowed to go scot-free in overcharging buyers, advising that cancellation of trade licences and sealing the shops of those indulging in undue profiteering should be taken into consideration.

The meeting was informed that so far 2,500 shopkeepers had been challaned for overcharging, but the campaign remained ineffective due to lack of magisterial powers.

It was informed that City Nazim Naimatullah Khan had written a letter to the chief secretary for delegating officers with magisterial powers, as they were handicapped in the absence of such powers.- APP/PPI