Capital admin concerned over soaring prices
By Ali Imran

ISLAMABAD—Islamabad District Price Control Committee on Monday expressed concern over the increase of prices of fruit and vegetables especially grapes, guava, banana, apples, tomato, lemon and peas.
The meeting of Islamabad District Price Control Committee was held here under the chairmanship of Acting Deputy Commissioner, Islamabad Amer Ali Ahmed.
The meeting reviewed in detail the prices of essential commodities and took important decisions to keep the prices of food items stable.
It was decided that sub-committees and representatives of consumers will play an active role in monitoring the prices of food items on regular basis. The representatives of fruit and vegetable association told the meeting that the crops of tomato and golden apple were produced much below than expected.
That’s why tomato is being imported from India. However, banana and apple imported from China are comparatively available on cheaper rates in the market.
The Acting Deputy Commissioner, ICT directed Assistant Commissioner (Saddar) Rana Akbar Hayat to hold a meeting with the fruit and vegetable association at sabzi mandi on October 9 and work out an effective strategy to bring down the prices of fruits and vegetables in the open market.
He further directed that problems of sabzi mandi and markets should be also resolved in consultation with the traders associations and Capital Development Authority. It was also directed to launch drive against encroachers. The Acting Deputy Commissioner, ICT also told that the administration is starting the checking of cold storages to curb
any hoarding tendency. He, therefore, directed the wholesale dealers to immediately bring out the commodities in the open market in case the same is stored with a view to profiteering.
On pointation of members of DPCC, District Health Office and District Food Controller, ICT were directed to conduct sampling of lemon (Khati) and in case it is found injurious, its sale should be prohibited immediately.
The flour mills association told that there is no shortage of Atta (flour) in Islamabad. The Deputy Commissioner, ICT informed that the case is being taken up with the Government of Punjab to enhance the forty bag per body up to sixty. It is hoped that if implemented this would reduce pressure on Atta crisis, he added.
The Acting Deputy Commissioner, assured the representatives of meat sellers that a meeting of meat board will be urgently scheduled for creation of a separate Meat Board for Islamabad in order to address the problems of Meat Association of Islamabad.
It was observed that the rates of G-7 sasta bazaar are much lower even than the rates of CDA weekly Bazaars and the consumers by and large have hailed the setting up sasta bazaar and providing maximum relief to the consumers during Ramzan.
The Acting Deputy Commissioner further directed District Food Controller to check the rate list of meat being sold in rural areas and take strict action against those found involved in overcharging.