Legislative proposal laid in NA to discourage hoarding of essential items.

ISLAMABAD -- The National Assembly (NA) on Wednesday witnessed presentation of the COVID-19 (Prevention of Hoarding) Ordinance, 2020 which aims to discourage hoarding of essential commodities by traders and check artificial shortages and raise in prices amidst spread of coronavirus.

Parliamentary Secretary for Interior Shaukat Ali laid the ordinance in the house. According to the sub-rule (6) of the Rule 120 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in National Assembly 2007, an Ordinance laid before the Assembly under sub-rule (1) of rule 170 shall be deemed to be a Bill introduced in the assembly on the day it is so laid. It shall also contain Statement of Objects and Reasons and a certificate whether it is a Money Bill or not.

The Ordinance contains three-year sentence, summary trial and confiscation of the material for hoarding of wheat, sugar, flour, ghee, sanitizers, face masks and other essential items.

The COVID-19 (Prevention of Hoarding) Ordinance, 2020 will be enforced in the Islamabad Capital Territory. The ordinance applies to both individual dealers and corporations.

According to the Ordinance, hoarding of the 32 consumer items will be a punishable act which include tea, sugar, milk, powdered milk, milk and food for infants, edible oil...