President’s Office issues clarification over use of emergency rules to deal with food crisis

Wednesday, 8 September 2021 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Says Commissioner General of Essential Services is empowered to issue orders to relevant officials as per Section 5 of Public Security Ordinance

The President’s Media Office yesterday issued a clarification over the use of emergency rules to deal with the food shortage in the country.

It said Commissioner General of Essential Services is empowered to issue orders to relevant officials as per Section 5 of Public Security Ordinance.

Following is the full statement.

The emergency regulations on essential food supply formulated as per the Section 5 of the Public Security Ordinance were declared in a Gazette, as per the powers vested in terms of the Section 2 and by enforcing directives under the Section ii of the Ordinance, in order to prevent market irregularities that inconvenience the consumers such as hoarding of essential items including paddy, rice and sugar and exorbitant prices.

Accordingly, it is the task of the Commissioner General of Essential Services to coordinate and initiate all activities to maintain the supply of essential services as per the Section 5 of the Public Security Ordinance.

Under this directive, the Commissioner General of Essential Services can appoint the required number of deputy or assistant commissioners by name or designation to implement the task.

The Commissioner General of Essential Services may issue orders to any competent officer appointed under the Section 5 to ensure that essential services are maintained, and it shall be the duty of the competent officer, authority or the coordinating officer to comply with all such orders based on the requirement.

Accordingly, the President has authorised the Commissioner General of Essential Services to coordinate the supply of paddy, rice, sugar and other consumer goods that are essential to maintain the livelihood of the people.

It is inaccurate for the Opposition to make a misleading statement in Parliament yesterday (6 September) stating that the Commissioner General of Essential Services cannot give instructions to the District Secretaries.

The Secretary to the President points out that the Commissioner General of Essential Services has the full authority to issue instructions to the relevant officials including District Secretaries and Divisional Secretaries in terms of Section 5 of the Public Security Ordinance.