Ramazan inflation: Shops raided to curtail profiteering, inhibit hoarding

Districts directed to form price control committees

CHITRAL/ NOWSHERA/ PESHAWAR: The police detained a number of shopkeepers and vendors in surprise raids in Chitral, Nowshera and other parts of the province Saturday morning.

In a bid to discourage hoarding and profiteering during Ramazan, the K-P government has directed district administrations and police officials to raid retail shops dealing with essential commodities. It has instructed necessary action be taken against those found not complying with price lists. All shopkeepers have been instructed to display price lists prominently in their shops in order to protect the consumer.

Deputy commissioners, district governments and law-enforcement agencies have also been asked to constitute price control committees.

Chitral

Chitral Additional Assistant Commissioner Syed Mazhar Ali Shah raided a government-run utility store at PIA Chowk where edible items of daily-use such as sugar, flour, dates were found missing. Taking note of the situation, Shah directed the Utility Store Corporation administration to ensure these items are available in markets in their maximum capacity.

Shah and his team also raided poultry shops, situated on Governor Cottage Road where they arrested two sellers for overcharging.

Alerting the buyers, Shah said the price per kilogramme of live poultry was fixed and must be sold for no more than Rs200 per kilogramme. He then warned all shopkeepers to follow the price schedule issued by the government or else face consequences. However, he said, “Rs300 is an acceptable amount to charge for chickens if they weigh 1,500 grams.”

Before making the raids, Shah met with elders of the community and asked them to extend support to law-enforcement agencies and the district administration to maintain peace during Ramazan. Shah emphasised no one was above the law.

Nowshera

Following government directives, Nowshera Deputy Commissioner Ziaullah Khattak formed a Price Control Team, assigning Nowshera Assistant Commissioner Abdul Hamid Khan as its head.

Abdul Hamid and his team raided several shops and came across many shop owners who had not displayed price lists. The shop owners and store managers were arrested and fined hefty amounts.

Butchers were arrested by the team for soaking meat in water to increase its weight and selling it at a higher price. Dairy sellers were also taken by the team for mixing water in milk.

The raids took place in bazaars and shopping centres in Cantonment and Rashakai.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 21^st, 2015.