ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan has directed the provincial and federal authorities to launch a special campaign to check unprecedented hike in prices.

Presiding over a meeting here on Thursday, he asked the provincial governments, local administrations and the chief commissioner, Islamabad, to conduct surprise raids at wholesale markets.

Mr Khan said effective implementation of local and special laws concerning efficient service delivery and relief to the general public was one of the prime responsibilities of the field administration.

The meeting observed that the lack of coordinationamong various stakeholders, poor understanding/implementation and indifferent attitude had established redundancy of these laws, thus increasing sufferings of the general public.

The prime minister said under the special campaign, a strategy would be devised by all concerned stakeholders to implement price control laws effectivelyfromthewholesale markets to retail shops. He said all the authorities concerned should make price and market control committees moreeffective,besidestaking stern action against the perpetrators under law.

The prime minister directed the field officers to frequently visit the wholesale markets and be present at the time of auctions to determine realistic rates.

He asked all the provincialsecretaries to f requently conduct surprise checks in the districts. He directed the special branch to report on daily basis the implementation of directives to the chief secretary and the chief minister concerned.

He directed the authorities to develop a mechanism to check unscrupulous elements which charged disproportionate prices without sufficient cause, besides taking strict action against the hoarders.

The meeting decided that the price control committees would notify the rates of essential commodities regularly and the same should be implemented effectively.

The meeting also decided that action taken on the above directions should be intimated to the prime minister`s of fice within seven days.