FAISALABAD: The district administration wasted no time to remove the fair price shop immediately after the departure of Chief Minister Usman Buzdar on Tuesday.

The administration set up the fair price shop near Iqbal Stadium where the CM was brought to check fruits, vegetables and pulses which, officials claimed, were being provided to the masses at fixed rates. However, to the utter surprise of the people and even for the nearby shopkeepers, the shop was removed just few minutes after the departure of the CM.

Some of the employees of municipal corporation were seen removing the products from the shop and people had been asking them that why they had been removing the products. People said they had to purchase the products, but the employees did not bother to reply and sped away from the spot.

Akram, who came to purchase fruits, said he came to know about this shop through the news channels and decided to purchase from here as the shop was situated just few yards from his home.

He said when he reached the spot, he was surprised to see that it had been wound up. He said the nearby shopkeepers told him that the shop had been set up on Tuesday and the vehicle of municipal corporation took away all the fruits, vegetables and pulses displayed here prior to the visit of the CM.

It is condemnable that the officials are dodging the CM who is trying his level best to do something for the masses, he said, adding that he must take action against the officials who had cheated on him.

Another man, Ali, who was also on the spot to purchase vegetables, said it was a white lie that edible items were available at controlled rates.

He said the district administration officials had the authority to control the price-hike to facilitate the poor masses. He said when they could dodge the CM easily, how they would do something practical to keep people away from the clutches of hoarders and profiteers.

He said it seemed the administration tried to show CM that everything was good in Faisalabad and reports regarding price-hike was fake.

DC Muhammad Ali said it was baseless that the shop had been removed. He said “the CM visited three shops and no fair price shop was established here at this point”.

Moreover, the motorists faced problems to reach their destinations due to traffic jam on different roads including Hilal-e-Ahmar Chowk, Chenab Chowk, Lorry Ada Road, Mall Road leading to railway station and other areas. People who remained stuck in the traffic jam said the rulers raised slogans that they were not getting any sort of protocol and ensuring measures to facilitate the masses. However, by blocking the roads, they said, the officials put them in trouble.

Published in Dawn, August 26th, 2020