Revenue officials to combat Ramazan price hikes

Get powers of price magistrates to impose hefty fines, send profiteers to jail

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RAWALPINDI:

To control prices and curb profiteering during the holy month of Ramazan, the district administration has decided to grant temporary powers of price magistrates to all officials of the revenue department.

This will increase the number of price magistrates in the Rawalpindi district from 60 to 100. The tehsildars, naib tehsildars, Patwaris, senior patwaris, and heads of various departments will also be given these temporary powers. The powers will be in effect from the 1st of Ramazan and will automatically expire on the evening of the 30th of Ramazan.

Under these powers, price magistrates will have the authority to impose hefty fines for selling overpriced, rotten vegetables, fruits, and food items, as well as to take action against profiteers. They will also be able to send violators to Adiala Jail for up to 72 hours.

This year, 11 Ramazan and Eidul Fitr bazaars will be set up without government subsidies or support, running from the 29th of Sha'ban to the 29th of Ramazan, from 8am to 5pm daily.

Separate Ramazan and Eid bazaars will also be held in each tehsil of the Rawalpindi district. The relevant Assistant Commissioners (ACs) will be responsible for monitoring these bazaars. Initially, these bazaars will be called Ramazan bazaars until the 20th of Ramazan, after which they will be officially declared Eidul Fitr bazaars starting from the 21st of Ramazan.

These bazaars will be set up at various locations including Committee Chowk, Allama Iqbal Park Double Road, Haidri Chowk, Dhoke Hassu, Morgah, Gulzar-e-Quaid, Chungi 22, Adiala Road, Chakri Road, and Misrial Road. The bazaars will be cordoned off, and police security will also be provided.

This year, instead of subsidies, the government will directly provide cash Eid gifts to registered poor families, which will be delivered to their homes. As a result, there will be no government-monitored bazaars with subsidies in cities, districts, or tehsils. Only the district administration will oversee and support these bazaars on a self-help basis.

Wholesale dealers will be given stalls at the Ramazan bazaars, and the Department of Agriculture and Poultry Research Institute will offer discounted eggs, chicken, potatoes, and onions.