Lahore: The Food Safety and Consumer Protection department is continuing comprehensive measures across the province to ensure the availability of quality essential commodities at official and affordable prices through an effective price control mechanism and continuous market monitoring.
Under the leadership of Special Assistant to the Punjab Chief Minister for Food Safety and Consumer Protection Salma Butt, field teams remain actively engaged in curbing overcharging and profiteering, said a handout issued here on Thursday.
According to the department’s latest performance report, 484,859 inspections were carried out across Punjab during the past week, achieving 108 percent of the assigned target.
During these operations, 23,744 cases of overcharging were detected.
Fines exceeding Rs 15.368 million were imposed, 46 cases were registered, 968 persons were arrested, and 693 business establishments were sealed.
The report stated that although nearly 85 percent of the raw material used in the production of vegetable ghee is imported, and global palm oil prices have increased, the Punjab government’s effective monitoring has helped minimize the impact on consumers.
The average retail price of ghee in Punjab remains around Rs 521 per kilogram, while lower-priced brands are also available at reasonable rates, providing quality alternatives for consumers across different income groups.
Similarly, despite rising production costs, the average price of chicken meat in Punjab has remained around Rs 445 per kilogram. The government continues to strengthen the supply chain through constant monitoring and is taking measures to prevent unnecessary price hikes.
Special Assistant to the Chief Minister Salma Butt said that, in accordance with Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif’s vision, ensuring the availability of quality food items at affordable prices was the government’s top priority.
She said indiscriminate action against hoarding, overcharging and profiteering would continue to provide genuine relief to the public.
Food Safety and Consumer Protection Secretary Dr Kiran Khurshid said the department was continuously monitoring markets through a modern data-driven monitoring system.
She directed all field officers to ensure strict implementation of official prices, the availability of quality essential commodities and a transparent inspection mechanism to effectively safeguard consumers’ interests.