TAXILA: The administration launched crackdown on profiteers across Taxila, Wah and Attock through special price magistrates, and as many as 56 shopkeepers were arrested during the action.

The shop owners were sent to jail for three to five days after a brief summary trial on the spot.

Food prices in Pakistan often surge during Ramazan due to increased demand and supply chain inefficiencies.

Assistant Commissioner Taxila, Ms Maryia Javaid, revealed this while briefing the journalists on Saturday about the anti-profiteering campaign launched by the local administration during Ramazan.

She said that the local administration has begun a campaign to curb hoarding and profiteering, and in this regard, 45 shops were sealed for violating the official price list and indulging in illegal profiteering to flee the consumers during the holy month with exorbitant rates.

She said that a fine worth Rs250, 000 was imposed upon these illegal profiteers and deposited in the national kitty.

She added that such operations will continue in the coming days to ensure relief for citizens and maintain price stability in the provincial capital.

She stressed that the crackdown is aimed at protecting vulnerable families and ensuring fairness in the market. In addition to jail terms and fines, violators may also face business closures and seizure of goods. Responding to a question, she said that in collaboration with the weight and measures department, numerous butcher shops were also heavily fined for violations of the official price list.

She said that local administration, through designated price magistrates have issued a strict warning to the shopkeepers, especially butchers and fruit sellers, against overpricing essential goods during Ramadan. Traders found selling items at inflated rates could face three to five days in prison.

She added that the local administration, in collaboration with the food department, has set eight truck points in different parts of Taxila where a 10-kilogram flour bag is available to the masses at a subsidised rate of Rs880.

She said that these points are located at key business centres, bazaars and public points.

Meanwhile, the district administration has intensified its crackdown on profiteering and violations of official price lists, conducting over 2,400 inspections across the district during the last three days, officials said.

Deputy Commissioner Attock, Rao Atif Raza, stated that price control magistrates carried out 2,441 inspections throughout the district.

As a result, 1,090 violations were detected. Fines amounting to Rs388,000 were imposed on shopkeepers for overcharging and failing to display official price lists.

“In addition, three shops were sealed for serious breaches of regulations,

31 individuals were arrested, and one FIR was registered during the drive”, he added.

Published in Dawn, February 22nd, 2026