TAXILA: A total of 143 shopkeepers have been arrested during raids on various markets and bazaars in six tehsils in Attock district this month.

Deputy Commissioner Ishratullah Khan Niazi told newsmen on Thursday that price magistrate and assistant commissioners conducted 2,748 surprise checks at various bazaars and markets during November.

He said that during surprise checks, 489 violations of the official price lists by retailers and shopkeepers were registered.

He further added that collectively, fines worth Rs702,000 were collected from shopkeepers for illegal profiteering and violation of price lists.

He said that the district administration is taking action against illegal profiteers and hoarders without any discrimination.

Responding to a question, Mr Niazi said that directions have been issued by the provincial government to adopt a zero tolerance policy towards artificial price hike and taking steps to control inflation and illegal profiteering.

He added that in a bid to control the price of commodities, officials of the district administration are regularly monitoring and regulating the bidding process of fruits and vegetables in their respective sabzi mandis and rates of commodities are then set accordingly on a daily basis.

“Legitimate profits were also determined in the presence of market committees and concerned middlemen.” Mr Niazi added.

Separately, in a crackdown against illegal oil agencies supplying POL without adopting proper safety measures in Hassanabdal, Civil Defence department sealed two outlets and challenged another.

The raids were conducted by Civil Defense Officer Sajid Mehmood Minhas in various parts of Hassanabdal and cases were registered against owners of two outlets who were imprisoned while a heavy fine was imposed on another.

Published in Dawn, November 29th, 2019