Against the price list: Fines worth millions imposed on 272 profiteers in Hazara
50 samples of edible items collected, 17 declared unfit for consumption
50 samples of edible items collected, 17 declared unfit for consumption. STOCK IMAGE
ABBOTABAD:
The district administration and food department imposed fines worth millions on profiteers for overcharging in a price-checking drive in Hazara Division.
Divisional Director Food Imtiaz Khan told The Express Tribune on Monday, “The fines were levied on 272 profiteers during a month-long drive against price hikes in various parts of Hazara.” Providing details and figures of the campaign, the food official said, “Teams paid surprise visits to 390 shops in Abbottabad and found 78 of them were selling food items against the standard price list which was issued by the government.” He added, “The shopkeepers were fined Rs0.24 million for overcharging.”
Imtiaz said, “The food department teams conducted raids in 181 shops in Mansehra of which 50 shopkeepers were caught red-handed for overcharging the customers. They were fined Rs0.20 million.”
He informed The Express Tribune food officials fined 75 profiteers in Haripur a total of Rs0.33 million. “The officers also visited Battagram, Torghar and Kohistan districts and imposed fines worth Rs0.52 million from 69 shopkeepers.”
The divisional director stated the food department officials collected 50 samples of edible items during raids and sent them to laboratory for examination. “Of the samples, 17 were declared unfit for consumption under food and health standards while the rest were cleared,” he added.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 1st, 2015.
The district administration and food department imposed fines worth millions on profiteers for overcharging in a price-checking drive in Hazara Division.
Divisional Director Food Imtiaz Khan told The Express Tribune on Monday, “The fines were levied on 272 profiteers during a month-long drive against price hikes in various parts of Hazara.” Providing details and figures of the campaign, the food official said, “Teams paid surprise visits to 390 shops in Abbottabad and found 78 of them were selling food items against the standard price list which was issued by the government.” He added, “The shopkeepers were fined Rs0.24 million for overcharging.”
Imtiaz said, “The food department teams conducted raids in 181 shops in Mansehra of which 50 shopkeepers were caught red-handed for overcharging the customers. They were fined Rs0.20 million.”
He informed The Express Tribune food officials fined 75 profiteers in Haripur a total of Rs0.33 million. “The officers also visited Battagram, Torghar and Kohistan districts and imposed fines worth Rs0.52 million from 69 shopkeepers.”
The divisional director stated the food department officials collected 50 samples of edible items during raids and sent them to laboratory for examination. “Of the samples, 17 were declared unfit for consumption under food and health standards while the rest were cleared,” he added.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 1st, 2015.