RAWALPINDI: The district administration has launched a crackdown against shopkeepers involved in overcharging and sealed 70 shops, lodged First Information Reports against 82 people and imposed fines worth Rs1.1 million.

Assistant commissioners of Saddar, Cantonment and all the tehsils of the district visited different markets and warned shopkeepers to sell edibles on official rates otherwise stern action would be taken against them.

Assistant Commissioner of Saddar Hakim Khan told Dawn that Punjab government had directed them not to spare any shopkeeper involved in profiteering. “Deputy Commissioner Dr Hassan Waqar Cheema formed teams for all the tehsils of the district to inspect bazaars while special teams have been formed to ensure implementation of the official price list,” he said.

He said that all assistant commissioners had been asked to present the daily reports to deputy commissioner office after Iftar. Apart from the bazaar monitoring, Dastarkhawans have been established with the help of philanthropists to provide quality food to the people.

“The monitoring of Dastarkhawans is being conducted while checking the food and no banned organisation allowed to take part in this.” He said that assistant commissioners had also been asked to join Dastarkhawans so the quality of food will be ensured. He said most sites of Dastarkhawans had been chosen where labourers stayed.

During the two-day campaign, he said 4,665 inspections were conducted across the district, leading to the detection of 243 cases of overcharging, 19 of hoarding, 39 rate lists and others. Total fines imposed worth Rs1.192 million on shopkeepers found guilty of overcharging and other violations.

The assistant commissioner said strict monitoring was underway to keep prices of essential food items under control in Ramazan.

Published in Dawn, February 21st, 2026