LAHORE: The Punjab government has created a Punjab Price Control and Commodities Management Department, abolishing the Food Department and bringing various relevant bodies from different departments under one umbrella.

The government created the post of an administrative secretary and, on Monday, posted Officer on Special Duty Muhammad Ajmal Bhatti as secretary of the Punjab Price Control and Commodities Management Department (PCCMD).

The new department has been given administrative control of the Punjab Food Authority, Punjab Agriculture Marketing Regulatory Authority, as well as other bodies previously serving under the Food and Industries Departments.

The new department has been created after amending the Rules of Business 2011 and has been entrusted with the functions of legislation, policy formulation, and planning as a measure of food security.

Food Department abolished

The department will take food security measures through wheat procurement, construction and maintenance of storage accommodations, storage of wheat, financial arrangements with banks, transportation of wheat, release of wheat and its overall monitoring, administration of food laws and policies and measures to ensure the provision of safe and quality food and hygiene.

The new department will also regulate the food business and create policies and measures for the elimination of food adulteration, nutrition surveys, nutrition awareness, and publicity regarding food safety.

The PCCMD has also been entrusted with the power to regulate flour and sugar mills, register contractors, manage tendering and contract awards, and determine, monitor, and report the wholesale and retail prices of all essential commodities across the province.

The new department will be responsible for protecting consumers’ rights through consumer protection councils and consumer courts. It will also oversee inter-provincial trade matters.

The PCCMD has been empowered to maintain, analyse, and document a comprehensive database of demand and supply of essential commodities throughout the year, while considering seasonal production, seasonal shortages, crop failures in critical production areas, origins, essential commodities importers, middlemen, transporters, etc.

The new department will develop a complete supply chain management system in coordination and consultation with all relevant stakeholders. It will monitor and implement the supply chain management plans for all essential commodities in coordination with the stakeholders.

The department will conduct economic studies, planning, and policy-making related to the demand and supply of essential commodities. It will provide necessary subvention for disadvantaged groups and areas, document all public and private storages for essential commodities, and maintain market information and intelligence systems. It will also handle matters common to all market committees, generate reports related to critical market data, and monitor the performance of all line offices.

The new department will prepare its budget, handle accounts, and finalise audit matters. It will manage service matters, except those entrusted to the Services and General Administration Department, and oversee the administration of laws and rules framed under different relevant acts.

P&D: The Punjab government transferred Senior Chief of Section, Planning and Development Board, Punjab, Muhammad Shahid Lali, and posted him as director-general of the Strategic Coordination Board, Home Department, against a vacant post.

Published in Dawn, October 8th, 2024