Lahore: Punjab Secretary for Food Safety and Consumer Protection Dr. Kiran Khurshid on Tuesday said that price control magistrates carried out more than 88, 000 inspections across the province during the past week, imposing fines exceeding Rs5. 566 million as part of an intensified campaign against profiteering and overcharging.
In a statement, she said the Punjab government was pursuing a zero-tolerance policy against overpricing, hoarding, profiteering and food adulteration, adding that no leniency would be shown to violators.
Dr. Khurshid said authorities arrested 433 people during the week as the crackdown on profiteers was intensified. Action was also taken against vendors selling bread at inflated prices, resulting in the arrest of 138 people, registration of 25 cases and fines exceeding Rs1 million.
She said 72 cases were registered for failing to display official price lists and overcharging consumers, while 38 shops and markets were sealed for various violations and 55 people were arrested.
The secretary said the Food Safety and Consumer Protection Department remained committed to ensuring the availability of safe, quality and adulteration-free food at affordable prices. She added that strict enforcement of price control laws was aimed at protecting consumers, improving market discipline and providing genuine relief to citizens through access to quality goods at reasonable prices.