25 October 2004	Monday	10 Ramazan 1425

KARACHI, Oct 24: Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad has emphasized the need for a coordinated and comprehensive system for supply of essential items at appropriate rates and protection of the rights of consumers.

He was addressing a meeting held at Governor's House. The meeting decided to constitute a voluntary consumer rights committee on the pattern of the CPLC. In this respect, the CPLC chief was directed to take necessary steps.

It was decided that the committee would work for maintaining prices at proper level alongwith ensuring quality in cooperation with the housewives, civil society organizations and volunteers. For this purpose, the committee would also develop awareness among consumers.

In order to bring stability in prices, the governor called for an effective system for supply of items of daily use. In this regard, he directed the city government to take immediate steps for establishment of two new sabzi mandis (vegetable markets) at the National and the RCD highways. Besides, he stressed on making the bachat bazaars' system more effective and transparent.

Ishratul Ibad directed the police to extend full cooperation to city district government for price control. In this regard, it was decided that eight teams would operate throughout the city for checking prices; ensuring availability of consumer items and taking action including fines against profiteers. Besides police, the teams would also include officials having magisterial powers who would take on the spot action.

The governor also asked the authorities concerned to take steps for setting up of dairy villages in Karachi, Thatta, Badin and Hyderabad besides making the Landhi abattoir functional.

He took strong exception to the non-implementation of decision for winding up the department of weights and measures and called for immediate steps for its devolution to the city government.

Dr Ibad directed that Sindh Transition Wing should be activated and the process of devolution of departments to the city government must be accomplished. He said that such confusions should immediately be removed to carry the benefits of local government system to grassroots level.

ROAD TRAFFIC: The governor has taken notice of growing number of road accidents in the city and directed the authorities concerned to take stern action against persons indulging in rash driving.

Addressing a high-level meeting at Governor's House, Ishratul Ibad called for identifying the black spots where accidents were occurring with continuity.

Referring to 74 deaths in road accidents during the last year in SITE area alone, he directed the secretary industries to conduct a survey of the Estate Avenue and other roads in SITE to ascertain the causes of accidents.

In this regard, he called for chalking out a line of action with the cooperation of TPOs and traffic authorities.

The governor stressed for amendments in rules and regulations and to take punitive action against persons violating traffic rules. He said that action should not only be taken against drivers violating traffic rules, but also against owners of such vehicles who employed careless drivers. -APP