47 profiteers held, 42 cases registered, Rs6m fine imposed in Punjab during Oct.

LAHORE -- To ensure the availability of essential commodities at the prices fixed by the government, a crackdown on profiteers is underway in the province and during the current month 47 persons were arrested, and 42 cases were registered, besides the imposition of a fine of about six million rupees on violators. This was stated during a briefing at a meeting chaired by Punjab Industries Minister Mian Aslam Iqbal at Chief Secretary's Office on Sunday. The Chief Secretary Punjab, administrative secretaries of relevant departments including Food, Agriculture and Industries, CEO Urban Unit, and Commissioner Lahore Division attended the meeting whereas all the divisional commissioners participated through

video link. The meeting reviewed the prices and availability of essential commodities, especially flour and sugar, performance of price control magistrates, and strategy to contain prices of eatables. The meeting decided to take unconventional and innovative measures to overcome the issue of price-hike. Speaking on the occasion, Mian Aslam said that providing relief to the common man was the priority of the government and no compromise could be made on this important issue. He said that the administrative officers would have to ensure the implementation of the fixed rates. He directed that the prices of...