Campaign To Ensure Implementation Of Price Control Announced

Prime Minister Imran Khan has decided to start a special campaign aimed at ensuring that state departments improve their efficiency in controlling prices, Dawn News reported.

The decision was announced in a statement released by the Prime Minister's Office. The statement details a nine-point strategy to implement price controls.

• A strategy shall be devised by all concerned stakeholders to implement price control laws effectively announced his intent from the wholesale markets to retail shops.


• Prime and Market Control Committees shall be made more effective and should take stern actions against the perpetrators under law.


• Field Officers shall frequently visit the wholesale markets and be present at the time of auctions to determine realistic rates.


• All the Provincial Secretaries shall frequently have a surprise check in the districts.


• Special Branch shall report daily the implementation of directives to the Chief Secretary and the Chief Minister concerned.Mechanism be developed to check unscrupulous elements which charge un-proportionate prices without sufficient cause.


• Strict action shall be taken against hoarding.


• Price Control Committees shall notify the rates of essential commodities regularly and the same shall be implemented effectively.


• A performance evaluation mechanism, with reward and punishment be developed to ensure success of this campaign.

Imran Khan issued directives that progress on the above directions be reported to him within seven days.Inflation is one of the most pressing issues for Pakistan. According to Trading Economics data, Pakistan’s inflation in March 2019 rose to its highest in five years (9.41%) since November 2013, when inflation rate was recorded at 10.90%.