KOHAT: Several retailers were arrested and their outlets sealed in Kohat and Hangu districts on Tuesday for deducting money from the Rs10,000 Ramazan relief fund announced by the provincial government for each deserving family.

The deputy commissioners sent their subordinate officials to the spot to verify the complaints, after which action was taken against the retailers.

The Hangu and Kohat deputy commissioners said that under the package, specific shopkeepers had already been paid separately for each transaction, so whoever deducted money from the beneficiaries would not be entitled to any concession.

They warned that no leniency would be tolerated if anybody was found receiving extra money from the beneficiaries. The administrative officials also visited retail centres located in different bazaars of their respective districts and ensured uninterrupted distribution of money to the deserving people.

They asked the people to immediately report any deduction of money from the Ramazan package to the respective deputy commissioners’ offices so that legal action could be taken against the violators.

Published in Dawn, March 26th, 2025