MANSEHRA: The district price control and review committee on Tuesday set the prices of essential and kitchen items for the upcoming fasting month of Ramazan.

`We have provided relief of Rs10-Rs20 per kg in prices based on previous rates, and if traders overcharge, they will be brought to justice understrict relevant laws, Deputy Commissioner Khalid Iqbal told the meeting at the district councilhallhere.

The participants included traders, representatives of consumers, and heads of relevant departments.

President of the central trader body Shakeel Awan, in consultation with other trader leaders, announced price reductions for essentials, beef, and other items.

Mr Iqbal said magistrates would pay regular visits to markets and bazaars to ensure that no one charged more than the prices set by the committee.`We want traders to follow these prices to provide relief to the people,` he said.

Trader leader Awan said the business community would cooperate with the district administration and relevant departments forprice control in Ramazan.

He added that traders from almost all wards in the city and its suburbs were consulted before the meeting to ensure reasonable rates during the fasting month.

`Although prices of essential commodities and edibles are high in wholesale markets across the country, traders should still pass on relief to the people,` he said.

The committee said beef would be sold at Rs750 per kg and milk at Rs200 per litre during Ramazan.

It said the rates of other commodities were also determined and accepted by representatives of consumers.

AWARENESS DRIVE: The Migrant Resource Centre Pakistan has launched an awareness campaign in the Hazara division to educate people on safe and informed migration.`People not only from our country but also from Afghanistan, India and Bangladesh attempt to illegally migrate to Europe and America through Pakistan and often face hardships and even death,` chief executive officer of the Needy Poor People Foundation Marium Hina told an interactive session at the press club here on Tuesday.

The session was attended by district bar association president H afiz Mohammad Naseem Khan and members Mubarik Ahmad Qurashi, Mehmood Akhtar and others.

Ms Hina complained that over 65pc of migrants were risking their lives through dangerous `donkey flights,` with recent incidents claiming lives of hundreds of Pakistanis which was an evidence of this growing crisis.

She said those seeking to move abroad, especially to Europe, shoulduse only the legal and safe means of migration.

Bar association president Hafiz Mohammad Naseem said `changing societal norms` were forcing people to seek financial opportunities through illegal means.

`There is no alternative to life. Families should ensure that their young members don`t risk their lives by taking illegal routes to reach Europe,` he said.

He said hundreds of Pakistanis had lost lives in the recent months while attempting to enter Europe illegally.