Under the Punjab Price Control of Essential Commodities Act 2024, the Provincial Controller General may seek assistance from other authorities under which section?

The Punjab Price Control of Essential Commodities Act 2024 is built to ensure that the government has enough power to protect citizens from unfair price hikes and artificial shortages. A key part of this power is found in Section 5(4)(e). This specific sub-clause is designed to foster cooperation between different levels of the government. It explicitly allows the Provincial Controller General (PCG) or any officer he authorizes to seek records and assistance from any relevant organization, whether it is at the Federal or Provincial level. This is a crucial administrative tool because price control is not a task that one department can handle entirely on its own.

In the real world, fixing the price of an essential item like wheat, sugar, or ghee requires accurate and up-to-date information. For example, the provincial government might need to know about the total amount of a commodity imported through sea ports or the taxes applied at the federal level. By invoking Section 5(4)(e), the PCG can legally ask Federal agencies like the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) or the Ministry of Food Security for data. This ensures that when the government fixes a price, it is based on solid facts and figures rather than guesses. It prevents retailers and producers from making false claims about their costs to justify high prices.t

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