13 profiteers sent to jail in Rawapindi

RAWALPINDI: As part of a vigorous campaign against profiteering and hoarding, the Rawalpindi district administration on Sunday claimed that it had conducted over 1,633 raids in the seven tehsils of Rawalpindi District and found 216 persons indulged in violation of the law. The administration sent 13 violators behind the bars while fines worth over Rs60,000 were also imposed.

A spokesperson for the district government on Sunday said that the campaign against profiteers had been accelerated during the holy month of Ramazan on the directives of Rawalpindi Deputy Commissioner Capt (retired) Anwalul Haq. Following directives from the Punjab government, teams were constituted to conduct raids against hoarders, profiteers, adulterers and check prices.

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A large number of raids were also conducted in different markets during the rest of April fines were imposed on shopkeepers who violated the law, he said, adding, various store owners found involved in profiteering, not displaying official price lists and violating hygiene standards were arrested.  On the recommendation of the raiding teams, 13 cases were registered against the accused and they were sent behind bars in the respective police stations.

The special campaign against profiteering will continue to ensure the provision of daily use items at the officially prescribed rates.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 11^th, 2020.