LAHORE: Chief Secretary Yousuf Naseem Khokhar has directed deputy commissioners to ensure availability of wheat flour and sugar in Ramazan bazaars and address complaints of consumers on a priority basis.

He was presiding over a video-link meeting of deputy commissioners on Saturday during which the issues like arrangements for Ramazan bazaars, price control, steps to eradicate dengue and polio and ongoing wheat procurement were discussed, says a handout.

He said the officers should work hard to make Ramazan bazaars beneficial for people. Those doing well would be fully encouraged. He asked them to continue crackdown on profiteers and hoarders.

He directed the food secretary to achieve wheat procurement targets at all costs. There was a need to eradicate dengue and polio from the country once and for all. He asked the deputy commissioners to personally monitor campaigns against dengue and polio in their districts.

The primary health secretary was asked to consult health experts for devising a comprehensive plan comprising short, medium and long term measures to combat dengue and polio.

The industries secretary said the number of price control magistrates had been increased to 1,200 in the province and as many as 916 profiteers arrested and 1,102 cases registered.

Published in Dawn, May 19th, 2019