Effective mechanism, legal reforms needed to curb food price hikes: Mussarat Jamshed Cheema

Senior Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Mussarat Jamshed Cheema has called for the introduction of an effective and technology-driven mechanism to control food prices across the country.

She emphasised that immediate amendments to existing laws are essential to prevent the exploitation of the public.

In a statement issued on Sunday, Cheema said the current system of price control has failed to deliver results, as shopkeepers continue to sell essential commodities at arbitrary rates, ignoring official price lists issued by the government.

She stressed that the administration should first focus on regulating prices in wholesale markets, followed by strict enforcement measures at the retail level to ensure compliance.

Cheema further urged the government to modernise the price-monitoring framework by integrating technology for real-time oversight.

“To stop price gouging and profiteering, the law must be strengthened to include harsher penalties and heavy fines,” she added.

The PTI leader said that protecting citizens from artificial inflation and market manipulation should be treated as a top governance priority.