On the direction of Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif, orders have been issued for reducing Rs. 15 per kg/liter the existing prices of all banaspati ghee and edible oils after record decrease in the transport fares and prices of petroleum products. A notification has been issued in this regard which will be applicable immediately. Three years imprisonment and a fine of Rs. one lakh will be imposed to violators of this order.
This was disclosed by Chairman Implementation Committee on the Reduction of Prices of Essential Items, Rana Sanaullah Khan at a press conference held with regard to decrease in prices of ghee at 90-Shahrah-e-Quaid-e-Azam here today. Provincial Minister for Food Bilal Yasin, Member Provincial Assembly Zaeem Hussain Qadri and Secretary Industry Dawood Ahmed were also present on the occasion. Rana Sanaullah said that government has taken the profiteers to task. He said that Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has constituted a committee on permanent basis for riding the people of price-hike which reflects his people-friendly policy.
Rana Sanaullah said that more than 150 dollar per ton has been reduced in the price of palm oil for the last few months in international market due to which the production cost of banaspati ghee and edible oils has decreased at least 18 percent. He said that the mill owners had not been transferring the benefit of reduction in prices at international level, upon which, government under Section 3 of Eradication of Price Control, Profiteering and Hoarding Act 1977 issued orders of decreasing prices of ghee and edible oil. Rana Sanaullah appealed to mill owners to supplement the efforts of the government regarding decrease in price of ghee and edible oil keeping in view the interest of the consumers. He also asked the people to immediately inform concerned DCO, Assistant Commissioner on toll free number 0800-2345 about the shopkeeper on overcharging.
