KARACHI:Provincial Minister for Works and Services Syed Zia Abbas Shah Rizvi said Sunday that the first priority of the Sindh government was to ensure the provision of food items and daily necessities to the people at reasonable prices during the holy month of Ramazan.

He said this while presiding over a meeting in the office of the Deputy Commissioner regarding price control. It may be mentioned here that Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has appointed Provincial Minister Syed Zia Abbas Shah Rizvi as focal person for Tando Walayar district with regard to controlling food prices during Ramazan.

The meeting was attended by Deputy Commissioner Wali Mohammad Baloch and SSP Farooq Ahmed Bijarani, Assistant Commissioners of all talukas, officials of trade associations, journalists, market committee and municipal officials. Briefing the meeting regarding the control of prices in the district during Ramazan, the Deputy Commissioner said that the concerned Assistant Commissioners and officers of the Bureau of Supply and Prices were making regular visits to the markets to check the prices.

Penalties are also being imposed on those selling food items in excess of government prices. The provincial minister while issuing the directive said that strict action should be taken against the sellers of food items at exorbitant prices so that the sale of food items at exorbitant prices could be controlled and relief could be provided to the people.