LAHORE: The Punjab Food Safety and Consumer Protection Department and its price control magistrates conducted 433,511 inspections across Punjab during the last one week in a bid to nab the profiteers, over-chargers and those neglecting displaying official price lists at their business premises.
Dr. Kiran Khurshid, Food Safety Secretary Punjab, while disclosing this said 20,245 violations were reported during the crackdown against overcharging, resulting in fines amounting to Rs11,561,915. Legal action was also taken against 2,151 shopkeepers for failing to display official price lists. As many as 81 cases were registered and 323 people were arrested in overcharging-related actions, Dr Khursheed said.
She added that action was also being taken against those charging more than the fixed price of bread. During the last week, 4,513 violations were reported, leading to fines of Rs591,500.
According to the Food Safety Secretary, 18,018 inspections were conducted to check chicken prices. Fines amounting to Rs429,011 were imposed for overcharging on chicken, while 45 cases were registered. She said 14,939 locations were inspected to check the prices of pulses, resulting in 935 cases of overcharging.
Meanwhile, the Price Monitoring PERA Force conducted 91,084 inspections during the week and checked 407 markets through price control monitors. During the monitoring operations, 13,000 inspections were conducted to review flour prices, resulting in 935 cases of overcharging and 533 cases of profiteering, she said.
Similarly, 11,955 inspections were carried out to check vegetable and ghee prices, during which 237 cases of overcharging were reported.
Dr Khursheed said the PERA Force reported 1,849 cases of overcharging during its checking operations and imposed total fines of Rs6.279 million. Price control magistrates also sealed 14 business premises on the spot over profiteering and hoarding.
Dr Kiran Khursheed said indiscriminate action against overcharging and artificial inflation would continue across Punjab to ensure the availability of food items to consumers at officially fixed prices.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026