KHAR: Taking notice of increase in rates of daily use items in Ramazan, the political administration of

Bajaur Agency finally formed the long-awaited price control committee to keep check on price hike in the tribal region.

The committee was formed in a meeting held here on Wednesday with Political Agent Mohammad Yahaya Akhunzada in the chair.

The meeting was attended by senior officials of the administration and representatives of traders and shopkeepers besides Assistant Political Agent Sohail Ahmed Khan and head of Bajaur Levies.

Officials asked to take action against violators of official pricelist

Addressing the meeting, the political agent showed displeasure over poor arrangements for checking prices of daily use items during the holy month of Ramazan.

He said that complaints regarding increase in prices of food items were lodged but the officials concerned did not fulfil their responsibilities to control the price hike.

He also showed dissatisfaction over the performance of Levies officials to keep check on prices in the local bazaars.

“This is the basic and fundamental responsibilities of Levis personnel to check prices of daily use items in the markets to maintain smooth and easy supply of essential items in the region,” Mr Akhunzada said.

The political agent asked the officials concerned to explain as to why official pricelist was not issued to the traders before the start of Ramazan.

He directed the officials to step up efforts to control prices of essential food items and ensure availability of commodities at fair prices to the tribal people during Ramazan.

Mr Akhunzada also ordered the officials to take stern action against the violators of the official price list.

After a long discussion, participants of the meeting decided to form a price review committee to check rates of essential commodities in the agency.

According to the decision, the political agent will be the head of the committee while additional political agent and assistant political agents of Khar and Nawagai and representatives of All Bajaur Traders Union will be its members.

It was also decided that official pricelist would be issued to shopkeepers on Thursday.

The political agent urged the members of price control committee to work for the welfare of people of the agency by keeping check on prices of food items and their quality as well.

The meeting also decided to take action against those shopkeepers, who were responsible for creating artificial price hike in the agency after issuance of official pricelist.

Published in Dawn, July 2nd, 2015

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