LAHORE, Oct 18: DCO Khalid Sultan has sought explanations from Ravi Town and Aziz Bhatti town municipal officers for failure to exercise the magisterial powers conferred on them for controlling the prices of essential commodities.

The DCO sought explanations while ordering immediate forming of teams for price monitoring and imposition of on-the-spot fines on shopkeepers indulging in overcharging at a meeting of the District Price Control Committee here on Monday.

The meeting was attended by the district and deputy district officers (revenue) and town municipal officers.

The DCO said that availability of essential commodities should be ensured at all the 15 Ramazan Bazaars within 48 hours positively.

He said that 'rehris' should not be allowed in the Ramazan Bazaars and sale of goods should be arranged on stalls at fixed prices. Proper parking arrangements should also be made at all the Ramazan Bazaars. He said that strict action would be taken against the officials failing to control the prices.

He said that officials monitoring the prices should meet at his office every morning to discuss the price and supply position and ensure that all essential commodities like fruits and vegetables, pulses, flour and meat should be available at all the Ramazan Bazaars in plenty at the fixed concessional prices.

The DCO said that town officials concerned should also ensure that the essential commodities offered for sale at the Ramazan Bazaars were fresh and of good quality.

Prices of all the commodities on sale should be lower than the open market and displayed prominently. A town officer should be posted at every Ramazan Bazaar to monitor prices and attend to the complaints of the consumers, he added.