LAHORE: Punjab Chief Secretary Kamran Ali Afzal on Wednesday expressed his displeasure over the sale of sugar at more than Rs70 per kg in Ramazan bazaars of some districts and sought a detailed report from the divisional commissioners.

He was presiding over a video-link meeting of divisional commissioners and deputy commissioners at the Civil Secretariat on Wednesday.

The Punjab government had been running 317 Ramazan bazaars in all districts and tehsils of the province, and providing Rs50 per kilo subsidy on oil and ghee, Rs50 on a 10kg flour bag and Rs15 per kilo on sugar.

The administration has also set up software and data centres to check the availability of subsidised items in these bazaars.

These centres register the sale of sugar, ghee and oiland flour after getting the identity card of each customer. The software has been installed to stop black marketing.

The data will show the detail of the items purchased by a customer and it will also show whether he or she needs more such items or not.

However, the public had complained to the administration about the sale of sugar and other items at higher prices.

The chief secretary said clear instructions had been issued to ensure the availability of sugar at Rs70 per kg in Ramazan bazaars but some officers did not show responsibility.

He warned that implementation of the directions be ensured in all cases as no negligence would be tolerated in this regard.

Asking the officers to tighten measures against smuggling, the chief secretary feared that the smuggling of wheat, flour, and fertiliser may take place during Eid days.