FAISALABAD June 18: Surprise raids will be conducted at shops and godowns throughout the district to ensure sale of consumer goods at controlled rates, says DCO Azam Suleman Khan.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the Price Control Committee held here on Sunday. Among other important decisions, the prices of essential kitchen items like pulses, vegetable oil, flour, sugar, mutton and beef were fixed to facilitate consumers.

The DCO said there was no room for overcharging and any one found involved in any malpractice would be taken to task. He said two special judicial magistrates had been assigned the task of checking prices by the district and sessions judge. Any shopkeeper or trader found involved in hoarding or overcharging would face strict on-the-spot penalty.

He directed the local market committee administrator to fix the prices of vegetables and fruits daily and send copies to the deputy district officers for ensuring its enforcement in their respective areas. He also asked the shopkeepers to prominently display price lists, otherwise, strict action would be taken against them.

The DCO asked the market committee administrator and livestock department officials to call a meeting of the poultry dealers and vendors to negotiate reduction in prices of poultry products.

He told the meeting that besides setting up 24 Sunday, Tuesday and Friday bazaars in the city, four special markets also had been established in Chak Jhumra, Jaranwala, Tandlianwala and Samundri to provide the ordinary people with essentials at specially reduced prices.

The meeting also decided to ask the multinational companies involved in marketing of eatables to establish their stalls in Sunday, Tuesday and Friday bazaars and supply their products to the consumers at specially reduced prices.

ARRESTS: A petition writer was arrested here on Sunday on the charge of supplying fake domiciles to the people.