Shopkeepers fined for price gouging

Fines up to Rs30,000 imposed

HYDERABAD: Several shop owners hiking up the prices of essential goods, such as milk, were fined by Hyderabad's assistant commissioners (ACs) in different areas of the city on Saturday.

On the directives of the Hyderabad deputy commissioner Fuad Ghaffar Soomro, Latifabad AC Faraz Ahmed Siddiqui and Hyderabad Rural AC Surhan Aijaz Abro carried out raids and imposed fines on those tampering with prices.

Siddiqui visited several dairies in his area and imposed fines of up to Rs30,000 for overcharging customers. He also sealed two major general stores for failing to following precautionary guidelines.

Meanwhile, Abro also visited markets and imposed fines of up to Rs13,000 on vendors engaging in price gouging. He claimed the authorities would continue to crack down on profiteers until essential items were sold in line with the price list fixed by the Sindh government.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 26^th, 2020.