Price control magistrates battle profiteering across districts

Price checkers impose a cumulative Rs4.5 million in fines

FAISALABAD: A total of 133 price magistrates took action against 15,367 shopkeepers in four districts of the province. The price checkers visited 2,730 markets, inspected the shops and imposed a cumulative fine if Rs4.462 million in Faisalabad, Chiniot, Jhang and Toba Tek Singh districts after allegations of a price hike.

According to details obtained by The Express Tribune, a total of 44 magistrates visited 795 markets, inspected 2,401 points in Faisalabad district and imposed fines of Rs1.96 million.

Similarly in Jhang district, 45 magistrates visited 410 markets, checked prices of 3,534 shops and imposed fines of Rs862,500. In Toba take Singh, a total of 25 magistrates visited 570 markets, checked 1,800 shops and imposed fines of Rs829,000. In Chiniot district, 19 magistrates visited 955 markets, checked 7,632 shops and imposed fines of Rs808,600.

Price control magistrates lodged FIRs against 24 shopkeepers and arrested 26 profiteers.

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Price Control Magistrate Riaz Anjum said the provincial government planned to take necessary measures against the artificial price hike of commodities. “On the orders of Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar, senior officials emphasised on the publicity of the Qeemat Punjab application so that people can report their complaints easily.”

The market committee issued the official prices of vegetables, fruits and other essential items, keeping in view wholesale rates in vegetable markets, he added. “Shopkeepers are legally bound to purchase government-issued price lists and display it on business points.”

The magistrate maintained that whenever a price control magistrate visits the market and finds a shopkeeper who has not placed the list visibly, they are fined. “Sometimes the magistrate would conduct a trap raid where a buyer is arranged to purchase some items from shops and if shopkeepers are caught overcharging the buyer, action is taken against them.

A vender of vegetables and other commodities named Abdul Rehman said that this is a good initiative of the government to check prices in the market. “If the government has a mechanism of regular checks and balances, the issue of artificial inflation can be overcome.”

A buyer said that the government should have control on wholesale items such as vegetables and fruits that are sold to vegetable markets. “The auction system in the vegetable markets is not good. This system leads to higher prices.”

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The government should introduce a procedure of sale of items at a wholesale level and control the prices at the time so that the system becomes convenient, he added.

Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Ali, while presiding over a meeting with price control magistrates, said that controlling prices is our priority. “Any shopkeeper involved in unfair price hike will be dealt with an iron hand.”

The DC directed the magistrates to take action against profiteers and the elements involved in artificial shortage, black marketing and adulteration. He emphasised on keeping close liaison with the traders of grains and vegetable markets to stay informed about the supply and demand of essential commodities.

He briefed the magistrates that shopkeepers involved in serious violations of food stuffs control act should not be spared and criminal cases will be registered against them. He warned that the daily performance of price control magistrates would be examined regularly and departmental action would be taken against officers showing poor performance in regards to price checking.

*With additional input from APP 

Published in The Express Tribune, November 7^th, 2019.