LAHORE, Sept 15: The City District Government of Lahore on Saturday took note of the flour shortage in the Punjab capital, constituting four raiding teams that found ample quantity of the commodity available at Ramazan bazaars, fair price shops and utility stores.

However, some 80 men were arrested from the Ramazan bazaars while selling goods at the prices above those fixed by the government, said two handouts issued by the CDGL and the Punjab government, respectively, that were not unanimous about the places raided, amount of fine and the sentence awarded to the ‘culprits’.

The handout issued by the CDGL chief public relations officer claimed 307 raids were conducted at Ravi Road, RA Bazaar, Baidian Road at Bhutta Chowk, Gulberg, Samanabad, Allama Iqbal Town and Shalamar areas and a fine of Rs229,500 was imposed on 80 men. Three men were sentenced to five days each while another 12 for two days each.

It said the teams, headed by the executive district officer and the district officer (revenue), Cantt and City deputy district officers (revenue), found that flour was available at Rs295 per 20 kilo bag at the trucks of the flour mills at the Ramazan bazaar and Rs260 per bag at the utility stores.

Headed by Cantonment Deputy District Officer (Revenue) Rana Shaukat Mahmood, a CDGL team imposed a fine of Rs55,000 and Rs33,000 on HKB and Potpourri, respectively, in Defence area for selling chicken and meat at exorbitant prices.

The same team also raided Rahat Bakery in Cantonment area, the CDGL handout said without mentioning how much fine was imposed on the shop owner.

According to the Punjab government handout, District Coordination Officer Mian Ijaz conducted raids at Shadman, Wahdat Colony and Model Town Ramazan bazaars besides other markets in these areas.

At Shadman, a case was got registered against one Shafiq who was sent behind bars for selling gram pulse at exorbitant prices. At Wahdat Colony, the Amir Store owner was sent to prison for 15 days for selling flour at more than the prices fixed by the government. M. Husain of Sargodha Chicken Centre was also sent to prison for three days for selling chicken at exorbitant prices in the same area.

The teams, headed by the EDO, DO, DDO (revenue) and special magistrates, told the DCO that 329 shops at the Ramazan bazaars were set up in the city, the Punjab government handout claimed and added a fine of Rs304,500 was imposed on 80 men while 37 others were imprisoned for five to two days.

Three men were sent to jail for five days each, 12 for two days each.

“Another 22 were sent behind the bars,” the handout added without explaining their term.