LAHORE: The Punjab government has announced a series of new measures aimed at providing relief to citizens, including the launch of free transport services in 17 districts of the province.
The decision was taken during a meeting chaired by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, where a report on the impact of oil prices on transport fares was presented.
During the meeting, officials approved a pilot project for free transport in Gujranwala, Multan and Sialkot, while directing that a detailed report on per-kilometer fares be submitted within 24 hours.
Alongside transport initiatives, the meeting also reviewed price control mechanisms across Punjab, where officials presented a comparative analysis of food prices, noting that flour in Punjab is currently Rs.427 cheaper than in Sindh, Rs.823 less than in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Rs.790 lower than in Balochistan. Besides these, prices of most pulses, fruits and vegetables were reported to be relatively lower in Punjab compared to other provinces, with ample stocks of pulses and chickpeas available.
The Chief Minister directed authorities to reassess the DC rate of food items and submit a report. The Punjab Energy Regulatory Authority (PERA) was tasked with regulating LPG prices across the province, while strict measures were ordered to curb hoarding of essential commodities.
Officials also appealed to traders and retailers not to purchase items being sold above the notified rates, stressing that enforcement of price control measures would be intensified in the coming days.
