KARACHI, Nov 10: The provincial government will encourage students, social workers and NGOs to run stalls of edible and consumer items at all the weekly bazaars in Karachi.

The decision was taken by the provincial Chief Secretary, K. B. Rind after consulting the DCO Karachi, Shafiqur Rehman Paracha, during his visit to a weekly bazaar held in Korangi here Sunday.

The CS pledged to provide the students, social workers and NGOs stalls of consumer goods and items of daily use, including edibles, at a reasonable price at 80 weekly bazaars all over the city.

He said that an action on the decision should be taken on Monday. He also asked the Bureau of Supply to provide free of cost space to a group of nomad females within Korangi bazaar.

He expressed his displeasure over the non-availability of wheat flour at Rs9 per kg at food stalls in accordance with the government’s announcement. Complaints to this regard had been made by customers at the bazaar.

Mr Rind asked the Food Secretary, Imtiaz Shaikh, to arrange the supplies immediately and directed the DCO Karachi to keep in touch with the flour mills association to ensure an uninterrupted supply to all the Sunday bazaars at concessional rates.

During the visit, the CS found three food grain and nimko stalls without having displayed a price list and ordered suspension of the stalls. He asked the administration of weekly bazaar to black-list those stall holders suspended twice for price-related violations.

Mr Rind directed the DCO to arrange a proper complaint system for an effective redressal of complaints made by consumers. Mr Paracha told the CS that consumers could register their complaints on telephone number 135 at any time to get a quick response.

The chief secretary also ordered an inquiry into the overcharging by the Bureau officials on stall booking.—APP