TAXILA: The district administration of Attock has taken measures to stabilise prices of essential items, said Deputy Commissioner Rao Atif Raza on Saturday.

He was talking to newsmen during a visit to the fruit and vegetable market in Attock to review and monitor the prices of essential commodities.

Responding to a question, he said due to an effective price control mechanism and measures taken by the district administration, prices of essential items had stabilised to some extent. He said overcharging by even a single penny would not be tolerated in the prices of flour, pulses, vegetables and other eatables.

Responding to another question, he said the relevant authorities had been given a task to reduce transport fares by 10 per cent as per the reduction in the petroleum prices. He said crackdowns will continue on hoarders and the benefit of reduction in fuel prices will be passed on to the masses.

Says authorities given task to reduce transport fares by 10pc

Earlier, Mr Raza directed all assistant commissioners and price magistrates of all six tehsils to ensure that the benefit of reduction in petroleum products’ prices and depreciation of US dollar against the rupee reached the masses.

Presiding over a meeting of the district price control committee, he said in the light of the instructions of the caretaker Punjab chief minister, stability of prices of food items was being ensured.

Therefore, ACs and price magistrates check prices of food items in the market on a daily basis and monitor the auction of vegetables and fruits.

“Assistant commissioners and price magistrates should mobilise subordinate officers to take strict action against hoarding and overcharging.”

He added that it was the duty of every price control magistrate to conduct inspections every day and ensure the price list was displayed at a prominent place in shops.

“Price magistrates should spend more time in the field so that relief could be provided to the public,” Mr Raza said.

“The monitoring of vegetable and fruit markets should strictly be ensured through the presence of officers on the occasion of auctions,” he added.

Published in Dawn, October 22th, 2023