KARACHI, Dec 27: City Nazim Naimatullah Khan has said that prices of different commodities cannot not be controlled unless magisterial powers are vested in city government officials on permanent basis.

He was speaking at the prize distribution ceremony organized by the Weekly Bachat Bazaars Welfare Association at Civic Centre, Korangi, Friday night.

He observed that magisterial powers were vested in DDOs (Revenue) only in the month of Ramazan for the purpose of ensuring control on prices. There should be, at least, one officer with such powers on permanent basis, he added.

“There is a need to stabilize the prices of meat and milk which have registered a significant increase recently,” the Nazim pointed out.

He appreciated the efforts by the organizers of the weekly bachat bazaars towards provision of different goods at reasonable rates to poor people. However, he stressed the need for further improvement.

Brig Qamarul Islam of the association said on the occasion that at the time of launching weekly bachat bazaars, the concept was public welfare. However, he regretted, some departments had now started auctioning. This has commercialized the project and resulted in an increase in the prices of different commodities.

He was of the view that market system should be handled by city government without which, he said, prices could not be stablized.

He proposed that the city government should set up a grain market on the outskirts of Karachi. He pointed out that grain trading was restricted to the narrow streets of Jodia Bazaar.

Secretary of the Association said that about two million people were associated with these bachat bazaars.

Nazim of Korangi Abdul Jamil and Nazim of Landhi Town Muhammed Shahid were also present on the occasion. —PPI