RAWALPINDI, Oct 27: The Tehsil Municipal Administration (TMA) has adopted measures to check hoarding and increase in prices of commodities during Ramazan, official sources told Dawn.

A meeting of the Price Control Committee, which was presided over by Tehsil Nazim Raja Hamid Nawaz, was held to discuss the measures needed to check price-hike during the month of Ramazan.

Hamid Nawaz issued strict orders to the officials of the committee to remain vigilant and book those who were found hoarding or increasing prices.

He asked the officials to prepare fresh price-lists of all commodities and provide them to all shopkeepers and stallholders one week before the start of Ramazan. Any shopkeeper who fails to display his price-list will be fined, he added.

Those who increase prices or create artificial shortage are culprits who have no respect for the holy month. Such people will not be spared, he said.

The Tehsil Nazim also issued directives to the authorities concerned that no hotel should be allowed to remain open during fasting time and violators be fined.

The district administration here on Sunday directed the health department to test the quality of spices and other food items being sold in the city to ensure availability of quality products during the holy month.

District Nazim Raja Tariq Kiani, during his visit to the Sunday bazaars, asked the executive district officer (health) to take action against the food adulterators. “There should be an end to this menace,” he added.