Lahore: The Punjab government has announced setting up ‘fair price shops’ throughout the province to provide relief to the common people, a news source reported. As per the publication, these shops will initially offer fruits and vegetables at government-controlled rates – with the pilot project beginning from Samanabad town.
Provincial Minister for Industries and Trade Mian Aslam Iqbal chaired a meeting during which the said decision was made. Agriculture Secretary Wasif Khurshid, Industries and Trade secretary, officials from the Urban Unit and other relevant departments were also present during the meeting.
The meeting decided that fruits and vegetable shops will be set up in the first phase of the programme. The selection of shops for the programme will be conducted transparently, according to the regulations. The owners of the chosen shops will buy commodities from the wholesale market and sell them according to the government-regulated prices to receive monthly salaries.
The minister said that the programme would be extended later to other parts of the province and digital price boards will be fixed in the hired shops. He also mentioned that the government would provide a mega relief package during the holy month of Ramazan.
