LAHORE: During a crackdown on profiteers, as many as 3,288 persons were arrested and 1,181 cases were registered for overcharging consumers across the province during the first week of Ramazan.

Meanwhile, the price control magistrates conducted inspections at 435,000 spots and imposed more than Rs40 million fines on violators.

These figures were presented to Punjab Chief Secretary Zahid Akhtar Zaman at a meeting held at the Civil Secretariat on Tuesday to review the province-wide crackdown on profiteers.

The meeting reviewed the price control measures and provision of ration bags to the deserving people under Ramazan package.

The secretaries of the relevant departments, including industries, agriculture, special branch additional IG, Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB) chairman and other officers concerned attended the meeting. The additional chief secretary, all divisional commissioners and deputy commissioners participated in the meeting through video link.

The chief secretary ordered that the ongoing crackdown on profiteers be expedited.

He asked the administrative officers to ensure the implementation of the price lists of essential commodities.

He said that special inspections should be conducted on the identification of police’s special branch.

He also asked the price magistrates to remain active in the field and take stern action against overcharging.

The CS also ordered expedited supply of ration bags to the deserving people in Gujranwala, Sialkot, Gujarat, Sargodha, Mianwali.

The secretaries of industries and agriculture gave a detailed briefing at the meeting, saying 3.8 million ration bags have been delivered under the Nigheban Ramazan package.

The meeting was told that a day earlier, 113,000 consumers benefited from the agriculture fair price shops established in different Ramazan bazaars. A subsidy of Rs20 million is being given daily on 13 items at these fair price shops, they added.

SED: Punjab Minister for School Education Rana Sikandar Hayat on Tuesday discussed joint initiatives for the education development with Lahore British Consul General Clara Sutrandhoj.

Various educational projects in Punjab to be carried out with the support of United Kingdom were also on the agenda.

The minister briefed the consul general about the priorities and steps to be taken by the Punjab government to meet challenges in education sector, especially for girls.

He also informed the British envoy about the plan to introduce technical education, IT, and other technology-oriented courses in schools of Punjab.

Mr Hayat said the Punjab government is striving to implement short-term and long-term education reforms, learning from the experiences of the UK.

He also discussed training of the public schools’ teachers, schools upgrade, and other issues with her.

Clara Sutrandhoj assured her full support to bring an educational revolution in Punjab.

Published in Dawn, March 20th, 2024