PESHAWAR, Jan 10: The district administration here on Thursday decided to launch a crackdown against profiteers and hoarders to ensure sale of quality food items in the markets.

The decision was taken in a meeting chaired by assistant commissioner, Peshawar, Sikandar Zeeshan.

The administration warned the shopkeepers and vendors against selling low quality items and overcharging customers, saying that the guilty would be sent to jail and their shops sealed.

Ration controller Qazi Faridullah, additional commissioner (revenue) Masood Shah and other relevant officials attended the meeting and gave suggestions to check price hike and hoarding.

The meeting decided that office-bearers of traders would be informed before launching the crackdown so that they themselves would check the markets and stop exploitation of consumers.

The participants said that an awareness campaign would be launched by displaying banners in all bazaars to draw attention of the business community in this regard and get its support against hoarders and profiteers.

The ration controller, additional assistant commissioners and police were directed to visit local markets, check prices of wheat flour and ensure its sale at reasonable prices. The ration controller would also collect sample of different items for laboratory tests.

The meeting also made it essential for the shopkeepers and vendors to display price list and follow the same strictly. The relevant officials were directed to fix prices of all the items afresh.

An official said that the step had been taken in the wake of revival of commissionerate system in the province. He said that the administration would fix rates of at least 53 food items, including fish and fruits.