GUJRANWALA: On the directions of the chief secretary, the divisional administration fined 2,362 profiteers altogether more than Rs6.6 million in the current month in Gujranwala division, besides registering 31 FIRs and arresting 38 people.

Similarly, 1,865 complaints were received on Qeemat Punjab App from consumers across the division, and of them 1,764 complaints were resolved while the remaining 101 complaints would be resolved by price magistrates within a day.

This was said by deputy commissioners of the division at a meeting, chaired by Divisional Commissioner Zajhid Akhtar Zaman.

During the video link meeting, the commissioner said that strict action must be ensured against all those who were overcharging and no leniency by price magistrates would be tolerated.

The commissioner learned 504 people were fined Rs1.8 million in Gujranwala, three FIRs were registered and eight people arrested. In Gujrat, 295 were fined Rs800,000, 16 FIRs were registered and all were arrested. In Hafizabad, 452 profiteers were fined Rs472,000, two FIRs were registered and both violators were arrested. In Mandi Bahauddin, 251 were fined Rs740,000, three FIRs were registered and three people were also arrested. In Narowal, 378 shopkeepers were fined Rs780,000, four FIRs were registered and as many were arrested while in Sialkot, 482 profiteers were fined Rs1.9 million, five were arrested.

Regarding Qeemat Punjab App performance, the commissioner learned that 1,865 consumers lodged their complaints through this App and 1,764 were resolved while 101 were under process.

The commissioner reviewed supply and availability situation of flour. He categorically stated artificial flour shortage and overpricing would not be tolerated and supply of flour at fixed rate must be ensured by DCs. He said the CM had ordered a massive crackdown on such elements and had directed immediate and result-oriented action in this regard. He said the Punjab government had set up toll free helpline 0800–60606 for lodging complaints regarding non-availability or over pricing of atta.

The commissioner warned of strict action against the officers for not giving top priority to the atta situation in their respective areas and urged the DCs to monitor the situation very closely and take immediate action where needed to ensure smooth and abundant supply of atta in the districts.

Briefing the commissioner regarding the atta situation, Deputy Director of Food Gujranwala Saqib said that 131 flour mills were operational in the division and 3,447 metric ton of subsidized wheat was being released to these mills daily. He said that 112,170 bags of 20 kg atta were being produced on a daily basis and there was no shortage of it across the division.

He further said that 39 trucking points and 131 fair price shops, each at the gate of every mill, had been set up to facilitate the public and to buy 20 kg bag atta at Rs783. He said that flour mills had also been fined Rs600,000 and grinding 93 per the daily quota was also being monitored.

Published in Dawn, January 19th, 2020