KHAR, Aug 11: Around 40 traders were arrested in Khar tehsil on Saturday over profiteering.

Bajaur Levies personnel accompanied the local administration’s officials during the crackdown.

“At least 40 shopkeepers, butchers and ice sellers Khar, Inayat Kili and Sadiqabad trade centres have been arrested for not following official price list,” an official said.

The official said the crackdown had been carried out on the advice of price control committee to address growing public complaints of profiteering. The administration warned traders against making unfair profits and said anyone found guilty of profiteering would be dealt with strictly.

People welcomed the crackdown and said it would help control artificial inflation. “Action will force shopkeepers into selling goods at official rates to our relief,” Nasir Khan, a local resident, said.

Meanwhile, tailors in Khar tehsil have substantially increased their charges ahead of Eid.

Gull Khan, a local resident, told Dawn on Saturday that Khar Bazaar tailors had doubled their charges to the suffering of people.

He also complained that tailors had stopped booking Eid orders.

However, Khan Fachi, of All Bajaur Tailors Association, attributed higher charges to escalating inflation.

He said tailors hadn’t increased charges for many years though prices of the items they used had skyrocketed and therefore, they had increased charges to meet expenses.—Correspondent