The artificial price hike usually seen during Ramazan will not be tolerated at all and to curb it effectively all district administrations need to be more vigilant, said Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah during surprise visits to the Burnes Road and other busy commercial areas of Saddar on Monday.

The CM was accompanied by Minister for Local Government Jam Khan Shoro, Principal Secretary to CM Sohail Rajput, Commissioner Karachi Aijaz Ali Khan.

He was later joined by Deputy Commissioner South who was also on a visit to Burnes Road.

Murad visited several shops, fruit vendors asking them to present the government’s rate list while also advising shopkeepers to keep their shops clean.

A watermelon pushcart vendor on being asked by the CM to display the rate list informed him that he had not received any.

Expressing displeasure, Murad directed the city commissioner to ensure every shop owner, fruit and vegetable pushcart vendor received the rate list.

He warned that the officer concerned with the responsibility would be held accountable if the order was not complied with.

Reviews civic issues

The CM further spoke with shopkeepers with respect to problems being faced by them owing to cleanliness issues and ongoing construction projects in the areas.

Taken to a street, by a shopkeeper, filled with stagnated water due to clogged gutters, the CM directed Commissioner Karachi to have the DMC South clean up choked gutters and the area.

Appalled by the situation, the CM stated that, “This is unacceptable – the streets, roads and gutters are not cleaned up unless the concerned local body is jolted into action.”

On his visit to Saddar too CM Murad Ali Shah discussed civic issues with shopkeepers and assured them of paying frequent visits to the area.

The chief minister directed city commissioner to expedite construction work of Saddar’s roads.

“This is a very important area and must be properly maintained,” he said.

The shopkeepers complained of the slow progress of construction affecting their lives as the air remained dusty due to the continuous flow of traffic on the roads.

However, Murad told the shopkeepers that the work would be completed soon.

But the CM did not leave without registering his complaints either and asked the shopkeepers to not throw trash on the road, especially when the waste management board had placed dust bins near their shops. “It is our collective responsibility to keep our city clean.