Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday announced his intent to launch a special campaign targeted at ensuring that state departments improve their efficiency in controlling prices.

The announcement came via a statement released by the Prime Minister's Office, which also outlined a strategy to implement price controls.

The nine-point strategy, quoted verbatim, is given as under:

1. A strategy shall be devised by all concerned stakeholders to implement price control laws effectively from the wholesale markets to retail shops.
2. Prime and Market Control Committees shall be made more effective and should take stern actions against the perpetrators under law.
3. Field Officers shall frequently visit the wholesale markets and be present at the time of auctions to determine realistic rates.
4. All the Provincial Secretaries shall frequently have a surprise check in the districts.
5. Special Branch shall report daily the implementation of directives to the Chief Secretary and the Chief Minister concerned.
6. Mechanism be developed to check unscrupulous elements which charge un-proportionate prices without sufficient cause.
7. Strict action shall be taken against hoarding.
8. Price Control Committees shall notify the rates of essential commodities regularly and the same shall be implemented effectively.
9. A performance evaluation mechanism, with reward and punishment be developed to ensure success of this campaign.

The prime minister has directed that progress on the above directions be reported to him within seven days.

"Lack of coordination among various stakeholders, poor understanding/implementation and indifferent attitude has established redundancy of these laws, thus increasing suffering of the general public," the PM Office statement observed.

"Effective implementation of local and special laws concerning efficient service delivery and relief to the general public is one of the prime responsibilities of field administration," it added.

The PTI government has been under increasing public and political pressure to rein in the sweeping price hike of utilities as well as commodities such as gas, medicines, and essential food items.

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The Eco­nomic Coordination Com­mittee (ECC) of the Cabinet on Wednesday approved an increase in gas price and a withdrawal in the subsidy on electricity. Resultantly, the average increase in gas and electricity tariff will be around 25pc and 12pc, respectively.

'Don't rub salt on people's wounds'

In a fiery statement released by PML-N, party spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb addressing the prime minister said: "Imran Khan sahab, you have to not just take notice, you have to answer for these prices."

She criticised the premier's announcement, saying: "You have handed over the [affairs of the] country to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and now you are taking notice of rising prices."

"You yourself have raised inflation to 13 per cent and now you are taking notice," she said, in further criticism of the prime minister's notice.

"Imran sahib after having engaged in economic terrorism, should not pull such drama with people, fooling and insulting them," said Aurangzeb.

She said that the premier had appointed IMF officials and is now asking 'how did prices soar like this?'.

"Do not pretend to take notice, answer to the people why gas prices have gone up by 200 per cent," she demanded.

Aurangzeb said that the people will themselves conduct an inquiry as to how the dollar gained so much in the past 10 months and how the rise in debt hit a historical high of $8,000bn.

Addressing the prime minister once more she said: "Prices have gone up due to your incapability and incompetence. Don't rub salt on people's wounds by taking this notice. The burden of your lies and inefficiency is being borne by them as it is."