Lahore: Price Control Magistrates, Assistant Commissioners, and Punjab Enforcement and Regulatory Authority (PERA) teams imposed fines totaling Rs635,000, registered 16 FIRs, and arrested eight persons during a citywide crackdown on profiteering in the last 24 hours.
The enforcement teams conducted 3,035 inspections across the district, issuing 92 challans for overcharging and taking action against 149 other violations to ensure essential items, including fruits, vegetables, and chicken, are sold at official rates.
According to breakdown details, Raiwind tehsil recorded the highest fine of Rs370,000 following 287 inspections. Nishtar tehsil recorded Rs59,000 in fines from 158 inspections, while City tehsil conducted 407 inspections, issuing 16 challans and collecting Rs52,000 in fines.
Similarly, Cantonment recorded 511 inspections with Rs43,000 in fines, Allama Iqbal recorded 371 inspections with Rs43,000 in fines, Model Town recorded 342 inspections with six arrests and Rs2,000 in fines, and Ravi recorded 306 inspections with Rs40,500 in fines. Further inspections were carried out in Shalimar, Wagah, and Sadar tehsils, resulting in additional challans and penalties.
Deputy Commissioner Lahore Muhammad Ali Ejaz directed officials to remain present in the field and submit daily performance reports, emphasizing that overcharging and artificial inflation would not be tolerated. He reiterated that strict actions would continue across the provincial capital to safeguard public interest.