All the government machinery is fully active to ensure the availability of quality edibles at affordable prices in the province and no negligence would be tolerated in this regard.

Chief Secretary Punjab Major (r) Azam Suleman Khan stated this while presiding over a meeting along with four provincial ministers Mian Aslam Iqbal, Mohsin Laghari, Noaman Langrial, and Sami Ullah Chaudhry.

The meeting was attended by Additional Chief Secretary Home, administrative secretaries of industries, agriculture, irrigation and food departments, Commissioner Lahore Division, CCPO Lahore whereas divisional commissioners and regional police officers (RPOs) participated through video conferencing.

The meeting reviewed strategy to crack down on hoarders and sugar stocks in the province. Secretary Food briefed that at present about 1.56 million metric ton of sugar is available in Punjab. The provincial ministers expressed satisfaction over availability of sufficient stocks but it was decided in view of Ramzan-ul-Mubarak that in order to stabilize prices all sugar mills and wholesalers would be bound to declare their stocks and stern action would be taken against violators.

Asking all the commissioners and RPOs to remain alert, the Chief Secretary said that information about those creating an artificial crisis of sugar has been obtained and a crackdown on hoarders and profiteers would be launched after getting orders from the government.

The meeting also decided that the four provincial ministers, their departments, experts and farmers would work collectively for crop management and devise a future strategy so that production could be enhanced.