Sher Gondal
Mandi Bahauddin
Additional District Collector (General) Muhammad Shafiq has said the profiteers and those using faulty measurement devices to cheat customers deserve no leniency. They must be taken to task and severely punished under the relevant law. In a meeting with Price Magistrates held at DC office he said that 34 Price magistrates are appointed to check prices in markets.
They, during period from first January to today carried out more than 4747 raids on shops, hotels, food outlets, godowns and petroleum refilling stations, and imposed fine amounting to Rs 1598600 on traders found overcharging the customers. District Officer Industries Rana Gulfam conferred powers of price control magistrate earlier in his briefing told that besides imposing fine, 15 profiteers were arrested whereas FIRs were lodged against 5 profiteers. ADC directed price magistrates to take sever action against commission hoarders mafias who according to him were main cause of price hike.
FIRs must be got registered against those found violating government approved market rates list and hoarding commodities to create artificial shortage. He said in the light of instructions from PM Imran Khan, CM Punjab Sardar Usman Buzdar, price magistrates are responsible for ensuring 100% stability in prices.