PM Khan chairs special session to control inflation, orders crackdowns

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday directed authorities to initiate crackdowns against profiteers and hoarders in a move to control prices of essential commodities, ARY News reported.

PM Imran Khan, while chairing a special session for reducing the inflation rate, ordered officials to ensure the continuation of supplies of essential commodities to domestic consumers on government assigned prices.

The premier issued directives to the federal authorities to hold a daily review of reports being sent by the field officers.

“Administration officers should ensure their presence in the field to hold strict monitoring of markets. Inflation will not be tolerated during the month of Ramadan,” the premier said.

It was decided to established special control rooms in all provinces to keep a check on supplies of electricity, gas and water to the citizens.

“Government is very well aware of difficulties being faced by our nationals. We are making all-out efforts to provide relief and the authorities will take strict actions against profiteers and hoarders,” he said.

“It is necessary to maintain close coordination among district administration, provincial and federal government for making swift action against the elements involved in rising inflation rate.”

Read More: PM Imran directs to ensure effective price control during Ramazan

The meeting was attended by Punjab Chief Minister, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) CM, advisors on commerce and finance, as well as concerned federal and provincial ministers and chief secretaries of all provinces.

On April 1, Prime Minister Imran Khan had directed the provinces and the interior ministry to devise an effective price control mechanism and ensure availability  of essential items of daily use during the holy month Ramazan.

According to a letter written by the prime minister, all the provinces were directed to form price control committees at union council and town level to stop profiteering in the holy month.

The prime minister directed to ensure uninterrupted gas and power supply during Iftar and Sehri and asked the provinces to take foolproof security measures to avoid any untoward incident in Ramazan.

He asked the interior ministry to establish a forum to ensure coordination meetings among the provinces to tackle the shortage of particular edible items.