More than 1,100 people were arrested on charges of profiteering in raids at 412 markets in the city during the first ten days of Ramazan, City District Government of Faisalabad spokesman Khalik Manzur said on Thursday.
He said price control magistrates imposed Rs1,460,100 on shopkeepers and vendors found overpricing or violating the Ihteram-e-Ramazan ordinance.
Manzur said cases had been registered against at least 60 vendors found guilty of serious violations of the Price Control Act. The remaining were fined and imprisoned for a maximum of three days, he said.
The spokesman said more than 150 hotel and canteen owners had been imprisoned for 72 hours for violations of the Ihteram-e-Ramazan Ordinance.
“The crackdown against profiteers, hoarders and violators of Ihteram-e-Ramazan Ordinance will continue throughout the month,” he said. A team of 54 special magistrates was leading the crackdown, he added.
The Faisalabad district administration in cooperation with transporters has made iftar arrangements at a Ramazan Dastarkhwan set up at the park opposite the General Bus Stand.
On Thursday, DCO Naseem Sadiq, RTA secretary Mian Mohsin Rasheed and General Bus Stand administrator Rana Habibullah broke their fasts with a large number of people at the facility.
The DCO appreciated the transporters for cooperating with the government in providing free-of-charge iftar and sehar to the deserving people. He said provincial government had made similar arrangements in other districts too. He said the well off people should come forward and take more initiatives for the poor during the Ramazan.
Sadiq said the campaign against profiteers would continue and no one would be allowed to fleece customers. “We have ensured that regular raids are being carried out at Ramazan Bazaars and other major markets in the city. Anyone found overpricing is arrested and fined on the spot,” he said.
He said the magistrates had been warned that any leniency on their part would not be tolerated.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 12th, 2011.
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