Steps being taken to ensure availability of essential items at fixed rates: Chief Secretary.

LAHORE -- On the direction of the Prime Minister, the Punjab government is continuing a crackdown on profiteering and hoarding across the province, arresting 906 profiteers and getting 971 cases registered against violators during the last two months.

The authorities also imposed fines of Rs 70 million on shopkeepers for overcharging consumers. These details emerged at a briefing during a meeting chaired by Provincial Industries Minister Mian Aslam Iqbal to review the price control measures.

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/ghee.

Speaking at the meeting, Mian Aslam Iqbal said that the Punjab government is 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 is available at a fixed price of Rs 860 everywhere in the province. He said that it is necessary to regulate the supply chain of essential commodities to control price-hike.

Hussain Jahanian Gardezi said that agriculture is the backbone of the country's economy, adding that production...