ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday chaired a high-level meeting and authorized a significant crackdown on the smuggling and hoarding of sugar, as well as profiteering.
The Prime Minister expressed strong disapproval of reports of illegal profiteering and smuggling and directed officials to take strict action against those involved.
The meeting was attended by various officials, including the Caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Ahad Cheema, Chief Secretary Punjab, Secretary Food Punjab, and Inspector General Police Punjab.
The prime minister announced plans to summon a high-level meeting in Islamabad the following day to finalize measures to stop smuggling and form a strategy for nationwide action. Shehbaz Sharif emphasized that those involved in profiteering and hoarding should be dealt with severely and given exemplary punishment. He maintained that people should not be left at the mercy of profiteers and hoarders and strict action would be taken against those creating problems and difficulties for the masses.
He directed Punjab Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi to take effective steps and monitor the situation to control the price of sugar. Additionally, he directed the provincial government to devise a method for providing sugar confiscated from smugglers and hoarders at a standard price. The Prime Minister also instructed the Chief Minister Punjab to hold a meeting with sugar mill owners to prevent sugar prices from rising. The Prime Minister had previously held a meeting in Islamabad on the issue last week, and the measures taken had brought the price of sugar down to Rs 92 per kilogram.
