149 arrested in crackdown on fertilizer hoarders

LAHORE:The Punjab government has intensified the crackdown on fertilizer hoarders and profiteers across the province, arresting 149 fertilizer dealers and lodging 265 cases in the last two weeks.

The officials stated this while briefing a meeting chaired by Chief Secretary Zahid Akhtar Zaman at the Civil Secretariat here Tuesday. The meeting reviewed the prices of food items and ongoing action against fertilizer dealers involved in hoarding and overcharging. The meeting decided to deploy the staff of Punjab Land Record Authority (PLRA) at the sale points of fertilizer to verify the ownership of agricultural land. The chief secretary directed that the sale of fertilizer should be continued under the supervision of the district administration to prevent overcharging. He said that the fertilizer dealers involved in hoarding and profiteering would be dealt with iron hands and the registered cases would be fully followed up.

The chief secretary issued instructions to the agriculture department to launch a campaign to create awareness about the proportionate use of fertilizers. He ordered all the deputy commissioners to mobilise price control magistrates in the field to ensure availability of food items at fixed prices and display of rate lists prominently at all shops. He sought a report from the divisional commissioner on the higher prices of onions and pulses in Sahiwal.