KARACHI, Sept 29: The city government officials with magisterial powers arrested four more traders and imposed a fine of Rs67,750 on 27 traders for selling wheat flour at exorbitant rates.
According to a summary of price control measures, 70 traders have been sent to jail while fines amounting to Rs9,556,600 have been imposed in 4,422 cases of profiteering since the start of the campaign on August 24.
During the last seven days of the drive against profiteering, the officials have penalised 262 outlets with Rs1.107 million fine and sent 21 men to jail for fleecing consumers.
The officials imposed a fine of Rs31,000 on 12 shopkeepers in New Karachi for selling wheat flour at high prices. Three traders were booked with a fine of Rs10,000 in Clifton/Saddar. Five outlets in Keamari were imposed with a fine of Rs7,000 for overcharging.
With a fine of Rs1,750, three traders were booked in Site Town. In Malir, three profiteers were penalised with a fine of Rs15,000 and four others were sent to jail. A shopkeeper in Baldia was charged Rs3,000 for profiteering.
Other commodities
The DDOs (Revenue) and Mukhtiarkars also carried out raids to check prices of other essential commodities.
A total of 143 challans were made on account of overcharging with penalties amounting to Rs197,250 on 27 flour merchants, Rs35,300 on 10 milk sellers, Rs4,000 on six meat traders, Rs17,500 on 45 vegetable sellers, Rs47,200 on 47 fruit sellers, Rs11,000 on three grocery stores and Rs14,500 on five others.
The officials imposed fines of Rs53,000 on 22 outlets in Clifton/Saddar Town while 23 challans with a fine of Rs11,200 were registered in Keamari Town.
The magistrates also booked 36 traders with Rs40,800 in New Karachi, 10 traders with Rs8,000 in Baldia, 17 outlets with Rs6,250 in Site, 31 shopkeepers with Rs7,900 in Liaquatabad Town, nine outlets with Rs35,000 in Malir Town and 10 traders with Rs12,700 in Shah Faisal Town.
Price control steps
Sindh Chief Secretary Ejaz Ahmed Qureshi has directed the food department to promote liaison with district governments and the organizations concerned for taking effective steps to ensure reduction in wheat flour prices to an appropriate level.
Reviewing a report submitted by the food department, he made it clear that since proper wheat quota had been released to all regions in Sindh, a reduction in flour prices at a satisfactory level was required.—APP
