Eight shops sealed for profiteering in Pindi district
The Rawalpindi district administration conducted 1,623 raids in seven tehsils of the district to check profiteering during the last 24 hours and imposed Rs189,000 fines on shopkeepers. Eight shops were sealed and five violators were arrested.
According to a district administration spokesman, Commissioner Rawalpindi Division Noorul Amin Mengal while chairing daily review meetings of price control inspections checked the performance of the authorities concerned.
The commissioner was informed that strict action in accordance with the law was being taken against profiteers and hoarders and six violators were sent behind the bars during the last 24 hours.
The meeting was informed that three FIRs were lodged against the violators while eight shops were sealed.
Around 368 raids were conducted in Gujar Khan Tehsil and fines amounting to Rs49,500 were imposed on 25 violators.
Over 99 raids were conducted in Kahuta and 14 violators were imposed fines amounting to Rs15,000. Almost 195 raids were conducted in Kallar Syedan and admin sealed three shops while an FIR was also lodged.
Raids were also conducted in Kallar Syedan, Kotli Sattiyan, Murree, Taxila, Rawalpindi Cantt, Rawalpindi City, Rawalpindi Saddar division and other areas and the teams took action against the profiteers.
Read Seven illegal buildings sealed in Murree
The commissioner had instructed the officers concerned to visit different markets on daily basis and take strict action in accordance with the law against profiteers to provide relief to the citizens.
Cases should also be registered against the rules violators and they should be sent behind the bars, the commissioner said, adding that the rate lists must be displayed at prominent places in the shops.
On Friday, Rawalpindi Deputy Commissioner Tahir Farooq visited Murree Road Ramazan Bazaar to review arrangements and checked the availability of sugar, wheat flour and other essential commodities.
According to a district administration spokesman, the DC also checked the quality of fruits, vegetables and essential commodities and inspected the Agriculture Fair Price Shop. He directed the stallholders to prominently display rate lists at each stall and instructed the officers concerned to ensure the cleanliness of the bazaar on daily basis.
The spokesman said that the district administration had set up 16 'Ramazan Sasta Bazaars' in Rawalpindi district to provide relief to the citizens. Sasta Ramazan Bazaars were set up at Committee Chowk, Hyderi Chowk, Khayaban Sir Syed, Kamran Market, Double Road Allama Iqbal Park, Gulzar Quaid, Adiala Road, Morgah, Chakri Road, Chohar Chowk, Chungi 22 and several other tehsils including Taxila, Kahuta, Kallar Syedan, Gujar Khan and Kotli Sattian. Sugar, flour, vegetables, fruits, chicken, beef, mutton, gram flour, pulses, chickpeas, spices and several other products were available at economical prices, he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 10th, 2022.