LAHORE: The Punjab government on Saturday suspended two assistant commissioners (ACs) – of Kotli Satian and Chua Syedan Shah – from service and issued warning letters to four others for their failure to control prices.

Chief Secretary Jawwad Rafique Malik issued suspension orders of both ACs during a meeting held to review the price-control measures at the civil secretariat here on Saturday. He also issued warning letters to the ACs of Murree, Rajanpur, Rojhan, Noshera and Khushab.

The chief secretary also asked the deputy commissioners of Sahiwal, Bhakkar and Khanewal, to improve their performance.

Addressing the meeting, the chief secretary said the availability of daily-use commodities must be ensured at the officially-fixed prices. He said the implementation of government rates was the responsibility of administrative officers. “Being supervisory officers, the commissioners and deputy commissioners should take action against corrupt officials themselves,” the chief secretary asserted.The meeting reviewed in detail the prices of goods, their availability and performance of price magistrates.

The participants were briefed that the officials arrested 724 offenders, and lodged 549 FIRs for overcharging in different cities during the last one week, besides imposing Rs21.9 million fines on violators.

Published in Dawn, August 29th, 2021