Chiniot: Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Asif Raza held a meeting with all the price control magistrates of the district and directed the people to ensure the implementation of the official prices of basic food items and the presence of rate lists.
While implementing the situation, instructions were issued to take strict action against the hotels selling food and drink items outside of Suhr and Iftar hours. Finally, the performance of all Price Control Magistrates for the current month was also reviewed, Deputy Commissioner. Directed the Price Control Magistrates to improve their performance, Additional Deputy Commissioner Revenue Altaf Hussain Ansari, Assistant Commissioners and Price Control Magistrates of Zulu were present in the meeting. Meanwhile the people of Chiniot observed meatless iftar of the fasting of Ramzan as butchers across city went on strike against what they stated as “cruel punitive measures against profiteers” by the district administration.
\There are some 100 shops of butchers who sell meat including mutton and beef. However, the district administration fixed price of mutton as Rs.1350 and beef as Rs650 per kilo which was not being observed by them. Instead they were selling mutton @1600 and beef @750 per kg. the price magistrates had warned the butchers to sell at administration fixed rates or be ready for penalty upto Rs50,000 or FIR and arrests or both punishments during Ramzan. On this, they went on shutter down strike today and people could not get meat for iftar on 1st Fast of Ramzan. The butchers association also staged a demonstration against administration high handedness. Anjuman Qasaban President Jamal Abdul Nasir said that there was hike in the rates of livestock during to upto 45% inflation in the market. They purchase animals on inflated prices and couldn’t sell their meat at lesser price. Due to which they were resorted to shutter down strike which would continue till their demands are met.
Correspondent
