LAHORE: Prime Minister Imran Khan has directed the Punjab government to `continue its crackdown’ on hoarders, profiteers and land mafia besides resolving the issues of price hike, joblessness and law and order in the province.

On his brief visit to the city on Wednesday, the prime minister held meetings with the chief minister and a delegation of lawyers belonging to Punjab, Islamabad, Multan and Lahore bar councils led by Advocate General Ahmad Awais at the chief minister’s secretariat.Later, briefing the media, Special Assistant to the Chief Minister Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan said the chief minister briefed the premier on the Punjab government’s plan to control prices of daily-use items. The CM said the government ensured supply of 20-kilogramme flour bags at the fixed rate of Rs860 each by offering a Rs60 billion subsidy. It would also offer a Rs7bn subsidy in Ramazan bazaars during the holy month.

Dr Awan said the CM also vowed that the government would give Rs110 more subsidy on each 10kg flour bag and ensure sugar was available at Rs60 per kg. She said the Punjab government would set up 313 Ramazan bazaars in all 36 districts, which would later be converted into Sahulat bazaars.

She said Buzdar had told the PM that he would personally visit all districts and announce packages to ensure development, progress and prosperity.

Buzdar approves Sahulat Bazaar Authority

She said the prime minister had directed the IGP to continue “the effective crackdown” on the land mafia and also retrieve overseas Pakistanis’ properties from illegal occupants.

Khan also directed the federal and Punjab finance ministers to ensure improvement in the inter-city road network and new projects be launched. “He lauded the Punjab government for its efforts to contain coronavirus and conduct a smooth vaccination drive. He also directed that all matters related to Lahore Waste Management Company be resolved and the city’s original clean look be restored,” Dr Awan said.

In a meeting with the lawyers’ delegation, the PM said lawyers colonies would be established in each division in Punjab and health cards issued to all lawyers in Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. He said lawyers would also be assigned a quota in the government’s low-cost housing scheme.

Federal Education Minister Shafqat Mahmood, Adviser to the PM Shehzad Akbar, Senator Ali Zafar, Chief Secretary Jawwad Rafique Malik and IGP Inam Ghani were present in the meeting.Meanwhile, the chief minister gave in-principle approval to establish the Punjab Sahulat Bazaar Authority by disbanding Punjab Model Bazaar Management Company.

The chief minister will be the patron-in-chief while the industries minister will perform as chairperson of the authority.Mr Buzdar said Kissan platforms would be established in the sahulat bazaars to facilitate farmers to directly sell their produce.

Published in Dawn, March 18th, 2021