ISLAMABAD: Minister for Information and Broadcasting Dr. Firdous Ashiq Awan said on Wednesday that Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani has emphasized Cabinet members for adopting effective measures to bring down prices of essential commodities during holy month of Ramzan.
Addressing a press conference after Federal Cabinet meeting held here under chairmanship of the Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani, she said the Prime Minister directed that hoarders should be dealt with sternly.
The Minister said the Cabinet has approved Rs. 2 Billion subsidized price package of essential food items to be distributed through the Utility Stores Corporation during the holy month of Ramzan. She said Prime Minister directed concerned authorities to ensure availability of food items throughout Ramzan and there should be no complaint of shortage or deficiency of any item.
She also said that essential food items included in the Ramzan Relief Package are Atta, Ghee, Dal Chana, While Gram, Dal Mong, Dal Mash, Baisen, Dates, Rice Basmati, Rice Sella, Rice Broken, Cold Drinks, Squashes, Tea, Spices and Tetra Mil Packs.
Dr Firdous also informed that it was decided that USC will also reduce the prices of more than 800 items by 5-10% by narrowing their own margin. There will be a difference of Rs. 17 per KG in the rate of sugar in the open market and the price at the USC. Moreover, there is a difference of Rs. 125-185 in 20 KG bag of Atta between the open market and the USC, he added. Firdous Ashiq Awqan said the Prime Minister stressed that all concerned departments should ensure adequate supply of necessary household items in the markets.
The Minister also said the Cabinet accorded approval to the decisions of ECC taken in its meeting on June 30 and July 20. The Cabinet also discussed and endorsed the decisions taken by the Cabinet Committee on Privatization (CCOP) held on June 17. She stated that the Cabinet discussed and granted Ex-Post Facto approval to the release of financial support of Rs 65 billion to PEPCO in order to improve the supply of electricity to the people.
The Minister said the Cabinet discussed and approved the proposed amendments in the Pakistan Penal Code 1860 and Criminal Procedure Code Draft Bill, 2011 amending PPC and CrPC, for its introduction in either house of the Parliament.
The proposed amendments, she said, will make the offenses like tampering oil & gas pipelines, damaging and causing destruction to oil & gas pipelines and theft of oil & gas liable to punishment of imprisonment and imposition of fine.She said imprisonment of 14 years and fine upto Rs. 10 million will be awarded to those who temper main pipeline. Imprisonment of 10 years and fine upto Rs. 3 million will be imposed for tampering with distribution pipeline.
On tempering with Gas Meter of domestic consume, imprisonment of six months and fine upto Rs. 10,000 while tempering with Gas Meter of Industrial or commercial consume, imprisonment 3 years fine upto Rs. 1 million will be awarded, she added. The Minister said for the implementation of the Supreme Court Judgement the Cabinet also discussed the proposed amendments in the National Tariff Commission (NTC) ACT 1990.
The proposed amendments will allow any two of the Members of NTC to exercise powers conferred upon the Commission with regard to the cases that fall within its jurisdiction, she said.