LAHORE, June 23: Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif says the Punjab government will give a special package to the common man in Ramazan under which flour, sugar, ghee and other essentials will be provided at subsidized rates.

The chief minister revealed this while presiding over a high-level meeting held in connection with the Ramazan package at his tent office in Minar-i-Pakistan here on Saturday.

According to a handout, the chief minister said that Ramazan bazaars would be set up for this purpose throughout the province and agricultural fair price shops would also be established in every Ramazan bazaar.

Mr Shahbaz said the special Ramazan ‘dastarkhawan’ would be arranged throughout the holy month where citizens would have free-of-cost facility of sehri and aftari.

He said since the price hike and power loadshedding had made the life of common man miserable it had become necessary to ensure the provision of everyday items and edibles at subsidized rates during Ramazan.

The chief minister said under the special Ramazan package, the quality flour in bags of specified colour would be made available to citizens in Ramazan bazaars and in the open market.

He said that manufacturers should be sensitized about the need of ensuring the provision of inexpensive essential items to citizens in Ramazan.Mr Shahbaz said that a revolving fund would be established to make certain the availability of pulses, vegetables and fruits to citizens.

He said arrangements would also be made to provide meat on subsidised rate to citizens during the holy month.

The chief minister said that monitoring committees comprising local public representatives would be set up at the district level to keep a watchful eye on prices of essential items.

He directed that price control magistrates and price control committees be fully activated during Ramazan and departments concerned should deal with hoarders and profiteers with an iron hand.

Mr Shahbaz directed that departments concerned should discharge their responsibilities regarding the use of correct weight and measures in the market to safeguard the interest of common man.

The secretary industries informed the meeting that 325 Ramazan bazaars would be set up while 1,350 magistrates would be deputed during the holy month.

The secretary food said that wheat would be supplied to flour mills from July 18, whereas flour would be available in Ramazan bazaars and the open market from July 19 at subsidized rate.

The secretary agriculture said that agriculture fair price shops would be set up in Ramazan bazaars where vegetables and other essential items would be available to citizens at concessionary rate.