The Punjab government has launched a crackdown against those shopkeepers and traders involved in overcharging, illegal profiteering, hoarders and adulterators across the province. As many as 1756 Price control magistrates of the provincial government are active in all the 36 districts of the province and as per Ramazan monitoring report, during crackdown Rahim Yar Khan District topped the list of fine payers where over 232,000 fines was collected while Jhelum remained at the bottom of the list. Price control magistrates imposed fine of Rs 5500 only in this district.
While total fine imposed on violators across the province during this crackdown was Rs 2,570,400. According to the report, 1441 places were raided in Lahore District and a collective fine of Rs 99,000 was imposed. As many as 232 traders were arrested while 119 First Information Reports (FIRs) were lodged.
In total 2, 342 markets were checked by these price magistrates and 9,979 shops were raided. 2,052 shopkeepers had to face legal action because of overcharging, 22 were found in hoarding, 73 shopkeepers and traders found guilty of adulteration and other violations of law. Labour department inspectors also raided 2121 shops to check the weights and noted violations at 158 places. Meanwhile, 318 special Ramazan bazaars set up across the province had so far sold 5700,000 kilograms of daily use items including flour, sugar, and rice.
According to the monitoring report of the special committee set-up by the government, 102,648 bags of 10 kilograms each were sold in these special markets at the subsidised rate of Rs 290 yesterday while in open market the sale of 12,101 bags of 10 kilograms was registered. While 178,019 bags of 20 kilograms were sold at the subsidised rate of Rs 620, the report added. Similarly, consumers bought 449,336 kilogram of sugar at the subsidised price of Rs 55, yesterday.
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