CM’s price control drive continues as Punjab conducts over 70,000 inspections in a day

LAHORE, Jul 02 (APP): The Punjab government has intensified its crackdown against profiteering and overcharging under Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s vision of ensuring the availability of essential commodities at official prices across the province.

 According to the Food Safety & Consumer Protection Department, Price Control Magistrates (PCMs) carried out 70,339 inspections across Punjab on July 1 as part of the government’s ongoing market monitoring campaign.

The inspections detected 3,534 cases of overcharging and 313 violations involving the non-display of official price lists. Enforcement teams imposed fines amounting to Rs3.794 million, registered six FIRs, and arrested 161 violators.

The department said inspections covered a wide range of essential commodities, including roti, chicken, wheat flour, sugar, basmati rice, pulses, vegetable ghee, eggs and vegetables to ensure compliance with officially notified prices.

The Punjab Enforcement and Regulatory Authority (PERA) also continued its enforcement drive, conducting 14,577 inspections. The authority detected 520 cases of overcharging, imposed fines of Rs2.625 million, arrested 19 individuals, and sealed 35 business premises for violating price control regulations.

Secretary Food Safety & Consumer Protection Dr Kiran Khursheed said the enforcement campaign reflects Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s commitment to protecting consumers and ensuring fair prices for essential commodities.

She said the government would continue taking strict action against profiteering, overcharging and violations of price control laws, adding that no one would be allowed to exploit consumers.

The provincial government reiterated its resolve to sustain market surveillance and enforcement measures to provide maximum relief to the public.