1,198 hoarders arrested

LAHORE
Provincial Minister for Food Bilal Yasin has said the district administration has been activated for controlling prices of daily-use items. He said that instructions had been issued to all district administrations to improve their performance.
He was presiding over a meeting of Cabinet Price Control Committee at Civil Secretariat here Friday. Secretaries of Industry, Livestock, Agriculture, Health, Information, Food as well as DG Food Authority, DCO Lahore and other officers attended the meeting.
The meeting was told that 1,198 persons were arrested while taking action against hoarders and profiteers from November 1 to 18, 2015 and fine of Rs 3.1m was imposed and FIRs registered against 831 persons.
The meeting was told that due to shortage of supply, prices of tomato, onion and potato were increased last week but now the items are available in the market in abundance at cheaper rates.
He said that the rates of the three items had reduced from 20 to 30 rupees per kg. The provincial minister directed the district administration to activate price control committees and improve their performance. He said that as per direction of the chief minister, restriction of one dish and timings up to 10 pm should be observed.