TAXILA: The Attock district administration said on Tuesday that it arrested 56 alleged profiteers and sealed 60 establishments for fleecing customers during the holy month of Ramazan.

Briefing newsmen about the anti-profiteering drive in the district, Deputy Commissioner Rao Atif Raza on Monday said that as many as 33 special price magistrates were deputed in six tehsils of the district to ensure the availability of essential commodities at official rates.

He said that these price magistrates carried out 19,546 inspections at all major markets during which fines worth Rs483,500 were imposed on as many as 186 violators.

The deputy commissioner said that on the direction of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, every possible relief was being provided to the citizens during Ramazan.

He revealed that during the drive, as many as 56 persons were arrested for indulging in illegal profiteering.

“We can not leave the faithful observing fast at the mercy of the market manipulators, hoarders, black marketers and profiteers”, he added. Responding to a question, he said that price lists were being made following consultation with the traders and other stakeholders.

He was of the view that the district administration would adopt a policy of zero tolerance on profiteering as strict and indiscriminate action would be taken against hoarders throughout Ramazan.

In Hazro, Assistant Commissioner Ayesha Badar along with other officials of the tehsil administration paid surprise visits to various markets of the city and imposed fines worth Rs0.2 million on violators.

Four shopkeepers found indulging in profiteering were sent behind bars after a summary trial.

Similarly, price magistrate Ilmas Anwar also paid surprise visits to fruit and vegetable shops in rural areas and imposed fines worth Rs60,000 on shopkeepers for violating the official price list.

Meanwhile, Additional Deputy Commissioner General Aneel Saeed paid a surprise visit to Sasta Ramzan bazaar in Attock city and expressed his resentment over the paucity of sugar in the bazaar.

He directed strict action against those who failed to ensure an uninterrupted sugar supply in the market at the subsidised rate.

Published in Dawn, March 5th, 2025