Lahore:As many as 323 people were arrested and 81 cases registered while Rs11.56 million in fines were imposed for overcharging and other price-control violations across Punjab during the last week.
According to Secretary Food Safety and Consumer Protection Dr Kiran Khurshid, 20,245 violations were detected during 433,511 inspections conducted by price control magistrates across the province, while 2,151 shopkeepers were proceeded against for failing to display official price lists. She said 14 business premises were also sealed on the spot over profiteering and hoarding.
Dr Kiran Khurshid said 4,513 violations of the notified roti price were detected during the week, resulting in fines of Rs 591,500. She said 18,018 inspections were conducted to check chicken prices, resulting in fines of Rs429,011 and registration of 45 cases for overcharging. Similarly, 14,939 inspections were conducted to check prices of pulses, during which 935 cases of overcharging were detected.
The Price Monitoring PERA Force conducted 91,084 inspections and checked 407 markets through price control monitors.
During monitoring of flour prices, 13,000 inspections were conducted, resulting in 935 overcharging cases and 533 cases of profiteering. Similarly, 11,955 inspections of vegetable and ghee prices detected 237 cases of overcharging.
The PERA Force also reported 1,849 cases of overcharging and imposed fines totalling Rs6.279 million.
Dr Kiran Khurshid said indiscriminate action against overcharging and artificial inflation would continue across Punjab to ensure the availability of food items to consumers at officially notified prices.