Punjab to establish new ministry to control prices commodities

LAHORE: The Punjab government has decided to establish a new ministry to regulate and control the prices of essential commodities across the province.

To amend the powers of the existing Price Control Council, the Price Control of Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill 2025 has been tabled in the Punjab Assembly.

According to the draft of the bill, amendments will be made to the Price Control of Essential Commodities Act 2024.

Under the proposed changes, the Price Control Council will be chaired either by the newly appointed Minister for Price Control or by a public representative nominated by the Chief Minister.

According to the text of the bill, the council will include livestock, agricultural marketing regulatory authority and heads of Punjab facility markets, the council has proposed to set the number of experts and stakeholders 3-3.

The amendment bill has been handed over to the relevant committee of the Punjab Assembly. The committee will submit a report in the House for two months.

According to government sources, the Chief Minister of Punjab is expected to retain the portfolio of the newly established Ministry for Price Control.