Punjab authorities have stepped up action against traders selling essential goods at prices higher than those fixed by the government, collecting more than Rs10.627 million in fines during the past week.
Secretary Food Safety and Consumer Protection Dr Kiran Khursheed said enforcement teams recorded 19,902 violations during inspections across the province. Many of the cases involved retailers charging customers more than the officially notified prices for essential commodities.
Authorities also found 2,168 shops and other locations without properly displayed price lists. The absence of visible rates can make it difficult for consumers to know the government-approved prices and identify overcharging.
As part of the monitoring drive, officials carried out 18,774 inspections specifically to check chicken prices. Another 12,829 checks were conducted to monitor sugar prices and ensure that traders were following the notified rates.
The campaign also led to 56 arrests, while 19 locations were sealed over violations detected during the operations. The action reflects the provincial government’s continued focus on controlling prices of commonly used food items and protecting consumers from excessive charges.
Officials said inspections and enforcement measures would remain in place to discourage traders from violating government price controls. They added that action would continue against businesses found selling essential commodities above the officially approved rates.
The latest figures show the scale of the provincial monitoring effort, with tens of thousands of inspections and checks conducted within a single week. Authorities are also relying on penalties, arrests and sealing of premises to encourage compliance among retailers and other sellers.
The enforcement campaign is expected to continue as Punjab authorities seek to ensure that consumers can purchase essential commodities at government-notified prices.
