Islamabad, Oct 8: Punjab Government Establishes New Department to Regulate Prices and Commodities. The Punjab government has established the Punjab Price Control and Commodities Management Department (PCCMD), thus replacing the Food Department. This action unites numerous agencies from disparate departments under a single roof in an effort to enhance commodities management and food security throughout the province.
Muhammad Ajmal Bhatti has been named by the government to serve as the department’s secretary. The Punjab Food Authority and the Agriculture Marketing Regulatory Authority, which were formerly under the management of the Food and Industries Departments, are administratively under the PCCMD’s jurisdiction.
This move comes after the Rules of Business were amended in 2011. The department is now in charge of creating policies, planning, and legislation to guarantee food security. In addition to policing food safety, hygienic standards, and commercial procedures, it will supervise the acquisition, storage, and distribution of wheat.
The PCCMD will also be in charge of contractor registrations, price monitoring of necessities, and regulation of flour and sugar mills. It will supervise interprovincial commerce and endeavor to safeguard consumers through consumer protection councils.
The department’s primary duty is to keep an extensive database that tracks the supply and demand of necessities while taking seasonal variations and market conditions into account. In order to assist with policymaking, the department will also carry out economic research and create supply chain management systems and the department has been tasked with legislation, policy development, and planning to ensure food security.
