K-P govt moves to curtail stockpiling

Bill against hoarding to be tabled in K-P Assembly

PESHAWAR:

To counter profiteering and artificial shortages, the provincial government has prepared a draft for bill with the document recommending three years in jail for those found involved in stockpiling.

The bill will be tabled before the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Assembly on Monday.

The legislation suggests stern action and penalties against hoarders. The document read that those involved in hoarding to create artificial shortage of any product so as to increase its prices would be dealt under the criminal code of the law and would also be liable to pay as fine 50 per cent of the value of items recovered.

A special magistrate will be bound to rule on the cases under 30 days while the review petition against the decision could be filed within a month, the draft read.

The proposed ordinance would be applicable on edible items and non-edible items.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 6^th, 2020.