LAHORE: Deputy Commissioner (DC) Muhammad Ali held a meeting with price control magistrates on Friday to curb overcharging and price hike practices by shopkeepers in the metropolitan city.

He also visited a department store at Jain Mandar on Friday morning, checked the DC counter and checked the prices and quality of essential commodities.

He learned Rs1.6 million fine had been imposed on shopkeepers for overcharging in the last 18 days while 4,014 inspections were conducted and 546 violations busted.

The DC said it was the duty of every price control magistrate to conduct at least 50 inspections per day and make sure the price list is displayed at a prominent place in shops.

He also directed the ADC to buy flour bags from a designated shop through her staff randomly.

There are 3,600 registered points where subsidized flour is sold daily. So far 80 cases were registered against shopkeepers for selling the flour at higher rates while show cause notices were also served on factory owners for irregularities in the supply of flour.

The wheat quota of nine flour mills in Lahore was reduced for irregularities in flour supplies.

The DC said that a proposal would also be sent to the Home Department to increase the number of price control magistrates.

Mr Ali also visited Union Council 108, Samanabad, and checked the performance of anti-polio workers.

He checked the micro plan of dengue workers and directed them to eliminate dengue larvae from places where detected.

Published in Dawn, August 20th, 2022