Punjab’s Secretary of Food Safety and Consumer Protection, Dr Kiran Khurshid, has said that on the directions of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, price control magistrates carried out a large scale crackdown across the province on the third day of Ramazan.
According to official figures, raids were conducted at more than 69,000 locations throughout Punjab. During these operations, action was taken against 5,258 shopkeepers for overcharging customers. Cases were registered against 54 individuals for illegal profiteering and 1,307 people were arrested.
Dr Kiran Khurshid said fines totaling Rs 9.23 million were imposed. She added that 1,601 price control magistrates are working in all districts to control profiteering. They have been instructed to ensure essential food items are sold at officially notified prices and to take strict action against hoarders and violators.
An emergency meeting of market committees across Punjab was later held under her chairmanship. During the meeting, directions were issued to improve transparency and ensure timely auctions of fruits and vegetables in markets across the province.
It was made compulsory for market committee representatives to be present during auctions. Officials informed participants that auctions are being monitored around the clock through body cameras and geo-tagging to prevent artificial price increases during Ramazan.
Market committee secretaries told the meeting that auctions are continuing at officially fixed rates and there is no shortage of goods. Bananas are being brought in from Sindh and are available in adequate quantities at fixed prices. Apples are currently out of season, but stocks stored in cold storage facilities are helping meet demand.
The public has been advised to choose seasonal fruits and vegetables instead of out-of-season items to avoid unnecessary pressure on demand and prices.