Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar has ordered administrative measures to stabilise prices of essential commodities and ensure their availability at fixed rates. 

In a statement on Sunday, he told the authorities concerned to keep a vigilant eye on the hoarders and profiteers and launch a crackdown on them. Action should be taken against the hoarders under the Anti-Hoarding Ordinance 2020, he said.

Buzdar directed the Provincial Price Control Committee to strictly monitor the prices of daily use items and utilise all administrative powers to provide these to people at fixed rates. He said that timely and effective government measures brought down the prices of flour, sugar and other essential commodities and provided relief to people.

He warned that an authorised increase in prices would not be tolerated. He directed commissioners and deputy commissioners to take action against hoarders and profiteers and send reports to the Chief Minister’s Office.

The chief minister said that profiteers were the culprits of the society as well as of the law. The government will take all steps to providing relief to people, he said. “I will not allow anyone to exploit people. The government will protect their interests,” Buzdar said.