LAHORE, Sept 13: Chief Minister’s Task Force on Essential Items Chairman SA Hameed says the government has decided to establish a ‘food authority’ in collaboration with the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry to control the menace of adulteration.

Speaking at the LCCI here on Saturday, he said the authority would have equal number of members from private and public sector who would devise ways and means for ensuring the supply of pure foodstuff to the people. The government would also ensure stern action against adulterators, hoarders and black-marketers during Ramazan.

He said the punishments proposed for adulterators ranged from a fine of Rs200,000 to Rs2.5 million with a mandatory imprisonment and new rules and regulations in this regard had already been notified.

He said the government had also decided to abolish the market committees and appoint special magistrates to control the prices of grains, fruits and vegetables.

He said the Sunday Bazaars had lost their charm as they were not catering to the public needs.

He said the government was going to launch a number of new initiatives with the LCCI assistance to alleviate poverty and develop various skills among those who could not afford formal education.

Chamber President Mohammad Ali Mian appreciated the efforts being made by the provincial government for ensuring supply of essential commodities in the provincial metropolis during the holy month by starting 21 Sasta Bazaars and opening 1,054 fair price shops.

He said the business community would always be ready to contribute to the government efforts for solving the people’s problems and economic revival of the country. hoardings: The Parks and Horticulture Authority has given a 15-day notice to the advertisers to remove unauthorised hoardings.

The PHA has been constrained to issue the notice to the advertisers because they have not bothered to remove a sizeable number of hoardings even more than two months and 12 days after the expiry of deadline on June 30 this year.

The authority will remove the unauthorised hoardings if the advertisers fail to follow instructions within a fortnight.