906 profiteers arrested in two months, ministers briefed.

LAHORE -- Punjab government, in its ongoing crackdowns against profiteering and hoarding across the province, arrested 906 profiteers and got registered 971 cases against the violators during the last two months.

The authorities also imposed fines of Rs 70 million on shopkeepers for overcharging the consumers.

These details were stated in a meeting chaired by Provincial Industries Minister Mian Aslam Iqbal to review the price control measures, the Punjab Industries Department spokesman told media here Sunday.

Provincial Agriculture Minister Hussain Jahanian Gardezi, the Chief Secretary Punjab, administrative secretaries of departments of industries, food, and agriculture, CEO Urban Unit, Commissioner Lahore Division, director food, deputy commissioner Lahore and officers concerned attended the meeting while divisional commissioners and deputy commissioners participated through video link.

The meeting reviewed the prices and availability of essential commodities, besides contemplating various options to control the hike in prices of sugar and cooking oil and ghee.

During the meeting, Mian Aslam Iqbal said that the Punjab government was giving a subsidy of billions of rupees on flour to provide relief to the common man. He said that due to government initiatives, a bag of 20 kg flour was available at a fixed price of Rs. 860 everywhere in the province. He said that it was necessary to regulate the supply chain of essential commodities to control price-hike.

Hussain Jahanian Gardezi said that agriculture was the backbone of the country's economy...