TAXILA: Deputy Commissioner Rawalpindi Hassan Waqar Cheema on Wednesday said 86 shopkeepers were booked while fine worth Rs9,694,200 was imposed on those involved in profiteering and violating the official price list in the district in the last three months.

He said 85,504 surprise checks were carried out by the price magistrates to tame profiteers and violators of the price list by the price magistrates in all the six tehsils of the district.

He said to check hoarding and profiteering during Ramazan, the number of price magistrates would also be increased to provide relief to the citizens. He said 46,368 bags of flour were distributed across the district during the last three months. He said 6,276 flour bags were distributed in Gujar Khan, 9,494 in Rawalpindi Saddar, 2,899 in Rawalpindi Cantt, 4,546 in Kahuta, 2,473 in Kallar Syedan, 2,122 in Murree, 5,955 in Taxila and 510 in Kahuta.

He said that around 500,000 deserving households will get over 1.44 million free flour bags across the district during Ramazan. Responding to a question, he said 10 mega flour sale points were established in eight tehsils of the district whereas 76 distribution counters were activated to facilitate the masses.

He said separate counters for senior citizens as well as special persons were also established in these mega centres. The DC said around 5,000 bags per day were being provided at these centres.

Mr Cheema said the Punjab government had launched a programme to distribute 30 kg ‘free flour’ to 1.8 million households during Ramazan with a subsidy of Rs53 billion.

Responding to another question, he said 232 trucking points had also been established across the district.

Eligible families can approach their nearest BISP office for registration to become entitled to the relief package within 24 hours, he added.

Published in Dawn, March 26th, 2023