Officials get magisterial powers to enforce prices

To monitor the prices of essential commodities in the Rawalpindi district during the fasting month, revenue department officials and the district market committee chairmen have been granted magisterial powers.

According to sources, the number of price magistrates has risen to 75 in the district following the decision.

The officials will be responsible to the keep a check on commodities such as fruits, vegetables, sugar, flour, ghee, gram flour, and rice in the district during the holy month.

Sources also said this year, the magistrates will also keep an eye on the ‘Sehri Bazaars’ and hold vendors accountable for profiteering and selling inferior quality items.

All price magistrates have been empowered to slap fines ranging between Rs5,000 and Rs50,000 against violators on the spot and send them behind the bars for 72 hours.

They will also conduct on spot hearing against individuals involved in selling substandard and unhygienic commodities.

All tehsildars (tax officers), deputy tehsildars, senior patwaris (accountants), and top employees of the Ministry of Municipalities would also be granted the powers of a price magistrate, as per the decision of the deputy commissioner.

These officials will be able to exercise these powers from the first of Ramazan till Eidul Fitr.

Sources further said that all assistant commissioners and additional deputy commissioners will also have these powers for the stipulated period.

They said each price magistrate will be assigned duties in specific areas, at bazaars or major markets and they will start the inspection from 9am to the next Sehri.

Meanwhile, the holidays of tehsildars and assistant tehsildars have been canceled for special duties.

These officials will perform duties even on Sundays. On the other hand, 16 'Sasta Ramadan Bazaars' will be set up in the district to provide customers with essential items at discounted rates.

These bazaars will remain open from 8am to 5pm. However, they will be closed from 6pm to 7am.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 12^th, 2023.