Price Control Magistrates arrest 164 shopkeepers for short weighing, hoarding

Lahore: 1525 Price Control Magistrates raided 9252 places and 1476 shopkeepers and traders were found involved in short weighing, hoarding and other violations.

As many as 135 cases were registered while 164 persons were arrested and a fine of more than 17 lakh and 68 thousand rupees was also imposed.

Maximum fine of five lakh and six thousand rupees was imposed on profiteering and hoarding in district Rahim Yar Khan and a minimum fine of six thousand rupees was imposed in district Jhang. In district Lahore, raids were conducted at 1095 places and after registering 62 cases, 98 persons were arrested and a fine of 97 thousand rupees was imposed.

Raids were conducted at 2149 places for checking weights and measures and action was taken against 212 shopkeepers and traders for short weighing throughout the province. On the direction of Punjab Chief Minister, 174276 kg chicken at subsidized rate of Rs. 234 per kg and 738459 kg sugar at subsidized rate of Rs. 52 per kg was sold in Ramazan bazaars. 116682 flour bags of 10 kg each at Rs. 310 per bag were sold while 6034 flour bags of 10 kg each at Rs. 330 per bag and 86043 flour bags of 20 kg each at Rs. 660 per bag were sold in open market.

Iftari was provided to more than one lakh and 66 thousand persons at 1814 dasterkhawans with the cooperation of government and philanthropists.