LAHORE:The Food Safety and Consumer Protection department is further tightening its crackdown against profiteers and hoarders across the province in line with the direction of Punjab Chief Minister.
According to a handout issued here on Monday, the Food Safety and Consumer Protection Secretary Dr Kiran Khurshid said that over the past four days, price control magistrates conducted raids at more than 361,000 locations across Punjab and took strict action against over 19,000 shopkeepers involved in overcharging essential commodities. A total of 48 cases were registered for profiteering and hoarding, 1,402 individuals were arrested and fines exceeding over Rs 7.8 million were imposed. She further stated that all available resources were being utilized to provide food items to the public at affordable prices and prices of frequently used commodities were being closely monitored.
Dr Khurshid said that to ensure the supply of broiler chicken at fixed prices, price control magistrates carried out raids at more than 18,000 locations across the province.Action was taken against 1,489 butchers involved in overcharging for chicken meat. Five cases were registered, 96 butchers were arrested and fines exceeding Rs 700,000 were imposed.
Similarly, legal action was taken against more than 28,500 shopkeepers involved in overpricing pulses.Seven cases were registered against 1,501 shopkeepers, 277 were arrested, and fines of Rs 366,000 were imposed.
She further said that the crackdown was also being intensified against the ghee and cooking oil mafia.In this regard, prices and quality were checked at more than 13,900 locations. As a result, action was taken against 454 individuals involved in overcharging, 109 were arrested and fines of Rs 132,000 were imposed.
The secretary stated that action was also taken against over 4,000 naan bakers and hotel owners involved in overpricing ''roti'' across the province. Six cases were registered, 194 individuals were arrested and fines of Rs 1042000 rupees were imposed.
