Over Rs3.5m fines imposed on profiteers between Dec 8 and 20, commissioner told

Karachi Commissioner Syed Hassan Naqvi on Monday chaired a meeting to review efforts to control the prices of essential commodities, action against profiteers and traffic problems caused by Bachat Bazaars in District East.

The meeting was attended by Additional Commissioner Karachi I Ghulam Mehdi Shah, all the deputy commissioners, assistant commissioners, and officers from the Bureau of Supply Department. Assistant Commissioner Headquarters Rabia Syed presented reports on action taken against profiteers and shopkeepers illegally selling LPG.

It was decided in the meeting that the auction system at the Sabzi Mandi would be streamlined to ensure that all the commodities were included in the auction process. The assistant commissioners also discussed action taken against profiteers in their respective sub-divisions.

The meeting resolved to take action against shopkeepers failing to display price lists for food and beverages. The commissioner directed the assistant commissioners to ensure price lists were displayed and the citizens had access to items at listed prices. He instructed them to effectively monitor prices in various markets, conducting continuous checks where necessary, for two to three hours.

A report on action taken against profiteers from December 8 till 20 was presented. It was revealed that assistant commissioners had imposed fines amounting to Rs3.68 million. In District South fines amounting to Rs1.3 million were imposed, in District East Rs235,000, in District West Rs183,000, in District Central Rs308,000, in District Malir Rs75,000, in District Keamari Rs291,000, and in District Korangi Rs138,000. Officers of the Bureau of Supply imposed additional fines of Rs266,000 on the profiteers.