September 24, 2007	Monday	Ramazan 11, 1428

RAWALPINDI, Sept 23: Heavy penalties were imposed on profiteers during the visit of City Nazim Raja Javed Ikhlas to various Sunday bazaars.

The nazim along with various magistrates visited Sunday bazaars and expressed his concern over the skyrocketing prices of fruits and vegetables, and directed the administrators to immediately take action against violators and confiscate their stalls.

Majority of the stallholders were caught redhanded while overcharging and blatantly violating the official price list. Many had also not displayed the rate list at their outlets.

About Rs60,000 fine was imposed on profiteers in Sunday bazaars at Committee Chowk, Haidery Chowk, Cricket Stadium, Dhoke Kala Khan and Murree Road.

Mr Ikhlas also spoke to the people at the Sunday bazaars who informed him about the escalating prices of essential items and urged him to conduct daily visits to markets in order to curb the menace during Ramazan.

The city nazim told the people that the district administration had declared five spots in the city where essential commodities were being offered at subsidised rates compared to market prices.

AGENCIES ADD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) on Sunday cancelled the licences of four stallholders of G-9 Sunday Bazaar who were found overcharging while permit of six others were also suspended.

Senior Director Sanitation Syed Mustafain Kazmi undertook a surprise visit to Sunday Bazaar after receiving complaints against the stallholders about overcharging and misbehaving with customers.

Mustafain Kazmi said he paid a surprise visit to the bazaar and observed that the stallholders were overcharging and misbehaving with the residents.

“We received a lot of complaints from the people in this regard.”

He also checked whether or not the rates lists were displayed prominently by the shopkeepers.

Mr Kazmi said the authority would keep monitoring Sunday Bazaar to provide the residents of the capital with quality products at fixed prices.

“We have directed stallholders to prominently display rate list and ensure sale of quality food items during the holy month of Ramazan,” he said.

He said strict action would be taken against profiteers and those found guilty of selling substandard food items.

Meanwhile, as many as four wholesalers were arrested for overcharging and profiteering at Sabzi Mandi here on Sunday.

The arrests were made during a surprise visit of Magistrate (Saddar) Mohammad Liaquat Abbasi following complaints regarding profiteering and overcharging by some wholesale dealers of onion and potato.

The profiteers were charging Rs300-Rs500 for each bag of potato and onion. Cases have been registered in Sabzi Mandi police station.

GUJAR KHAN: The residents of different localities have expressed concern over the price-hike in the tehsil.

Prices of essential commodities, especially meat, milk, fruits, pulses, vegetables and flour, have gone out of the reach of the common people, they complained.

MURREE: A number of profiteers were fined for overcharging at Lower Bazaar, Mall Road and Sunny Bank Bazaar.

According to officials, the special price control magistrate Murree conducted surprise raids at different markets and fined those shopkeepers who were violating the rules.

The magistrate also gave warning to the shopkeepers and advised them to avoid overcharging.