LAHORE: Chief Minister Punjab Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi and the Administrative Secretaries have agreed to restore the Executive Magistrate System, which gives magistrates summary powers to punish those involved in profiteering with one to three years in prison. Can be given.
According to media reports, Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi was holding the first meeting with the administrative secretaries in the Durbar Hall of the Punjab Civil Secretariat.
Speaking on the occasion, he said that the civil bureaucracy should propose a workable mechanism for amending the Criminal Procedure Code (CRPC) to restore the magisterial system to effectively control prices.
Administrative Secretaries said that there are continuous complaints regarding sale of daily consumption items prescribed by the government at exorbitant prices and the government writs are being challenged by those involved in profiteering.
The meeting was told that out of the 50 price control inspectors posted in Lahore, none were trained price control inspectors, only 3 of these officers had read the Price Control Act, 2006. A summary power of imprisonment is also included, while for the first offense a fine and imprisonment for one year may be imposed.
The meeting was told that the inspectors are only imposing fines or registering First Information Reports (FIRs) in some cases which are ineffective while the criminals continue to overcharge even after the fines.
Chief Minister Punjab Pervaiz Elahi asked Chief Secretary Abdullah Khan Sambal to form a committee and discuss the matter with Secretary Irrigation Rai Manzoor Nasir who had raised the issue of overcharging.
The magisterial system was abolished under the Price Control and Prevention of Profiteering and Hoarding Act 1977 by former President General Pervez Musharraf in 2001.
In the meeting, the wastage of resources in the departments was discussed and Chief Minister Punjab directed all the administrative secretaries to review the affairs of their departments to find ways to save resources.
He directed the Chief Secretary to give short-term targets to the Executive Secretaries, monitor the achievement of the targets and resolve the issues.
Chaudhry Parvez Elahi said that the performance of the officers will be evaluated in relation to development projects.
He asked the secretaries to ensure proper utilization of development funds to achieve results.
On this occasion, he issued instructions for early completion of development schemes and achievement of targets.
The Chief Minister emphasized that the summary or file related to any case should be decided within 2 days.
The chief minister said that the administrative secretaries should follow an open door policy so that people can meet them for their problems, but he agreed with the bureaucracy’s suggestion that secretaries’ offices should be open daily from 9:30 am to 9:30 am. will be open to the public till 11 pm, the Chief Minister stressed that the secretaries should not schedule their meetings during the scheduled time for the public.
Pervaiz Elahi also emphasized that the problems of people belonging to other cities besides Lahore should be solved in their cities so that they do not have to come to the provincial capital. He said that more work should be done in South Punjab than before. .
Chief Secretary Abdullah Sambal assured Chief Minister Parvaiz Elahi that the secretaries and heads of institutions will do their best for public welfare and resources will be utilized to accelerate development.
Administrative Secretaries of South Punjab Secretariat from Multan and Bahawalpur participated through video link while Secretaries of Local Government and Industries Department also participated in the meeting through video link.
Former Federal Minister Munis Elahi, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mohammad Khan Bhatti, SMBR Zahid Akhtar Zaman, Additional Chief Secretary Asadullah Khan, Former Principal Secretary to Chief Minister GM Sikandar and administrative secretaries of 42 departments participated in the meeting.
