KARACHI, Aug 15: The city government has decided to launch a price control campaign within a couple of days, at least a month before the advent of Ramazan.

A source in the revenue department said that special and first class magistrates were being activated for the drive which would continue for at least two months.

The city government has maintained that there is a feeling among the general public that the campaign for an effective check on the prices of essential commodities of daily use, including food items, vegetables and fruit, should be run on a regular basis.

Therefore, it has been decided to mobilise the deputy district officers (revenue) delegated with magisterial powers in addition to the first and second class magistrates available with the town administrations to launch the campaign about a month before the advent of Ramazan.

It is learnt that the magistrates would be assigned the task of inspecting warehouses of essential commodities to check hoarding and penalise those found indulging in such a practice during the campaign.

There has been a trend of an unnatural increase in the prices of almost all items of daily use, especially fruit, vegetables and other kitchen commodities, a few days ahead of the holy month. It is observed that the trend is encouraged by the ineffectiveness of the government’s price control mechanism at all levels.

About a week back, the DCO Karachi had chaired a meeting of the officials concerned to review the price control strategy and measures. Some of the participants stated that the meeting was convened in the backdrop of the general impression in society that the measures taken only days before Ramazan to check price hike always proved ineffective. It was also felt that the activity and action by the magistrates and CDGK officials mobilised in the campaign did not give the desired results.

The DCO had told the meeting that the price control campaign should not be launched at random but on a regular basis so that hoarders and profiteers could be taken to task on time. He had also directed the officials that there should be a commodity-wise and well-rounded campaign involving magistrates.

It was noted at the meeting that despite the government’s efforts and a court decision, many shopkeepers were still selling milk at a rate higher than those notified by the CDGK, ie Rs30 and Rs32 per litre in wholesale and retail, respectively.

The EDO E&IP suggested ensuring the presence of magistrates at the time of the auction of vegetables and fruit at Sabzi Mandi as well as the bulk sale of milk at the Lea Market.

Meanwhile, the Additional EDO (Revenue), Matanat Ali Khan, said on Wednesday that as a follow up of the price control review meeting, all deputy district officers of towns had been asked to initiate the exercise instantly to chalk out a well-integrated, target-oriented and coordinated plan.

In reply to a question, he said that since the number of officials delegated with the magisterial powers was very thin, a round-the-year price control activity could not be ensured at the moment.

He said that DDOs, mukhtiarkars and assistant mukhtiarkars had the powers to impose a fine up to Rs15,000 on an offender and/or send him behind bars if found selling kiryana items, vegetables and fruit at a rate higher than the approved prices. Under the legal provisions, hoarders could also be awarded the fine and/or jail term.