Under which section of the Punjab Price Control of Essential Commodities Act 2024 may the Provincial Controller General delegate his powers to a government officer?

Section 5(2) of the Punjab Price Control of Essential Commodities Act 2024 is a fundamental part of the law that deals with how power is shared within the government. The Provincial Controller General is the head of the price control system, but he cannot be present in every market across the province at the same time. To solve this practical problem, Section 5(2) allows him to pass his powers to other government officers through a formal order. This ensures that the law is active in every corner of Punjab, from big cities to small rural villages.

Here is the section 5(2): 

"The Provincial Controller General may, by an order, authorize any officer of the Government to exercise his powers and functions within any specific area and with regard to any specific essential commodity or class of commodities, as he may deem fit."

According to this section, the authorization is not just random or general. The Provincial Controller General has the right to decide exactly where an officer will work and what items they will monitor. For instance, an officer might be given the duty to control prices in a specific tehsil or an entire district. Furthermore, the power can be limited to specific goods. The Controller might ask an officer to focus specifically on essential commodities like wheat, sugar, or pulses, or even a whole class of items like dairy products or medicines. This focused approach makes it much easier to manage the market and stop illegal activities like hoarding.

This delegation is the reason why local Assistant Commissioners or Price Control Magistrates can conduct raids and check price lists on the ground. They get their legal authority from the order issued under this specific sub-section. Without Section 5(2), the enforcement of price laws would be very slow and difficult. It creates a strong network of officers who can take quick action against shopkeepers who do not follow the government’s fixed rates. For students and aspirants, knowing this section helps in understanding how the government maintains its grip on the market to protect the public from artificial inflation. It is a key tool for keeping daily-use items affordable for every citizen.