1,075 profiteers arrested,65 cases registered in 3 days across Punjab

LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 16th Mar, 2026) The Secretary for Food Safety and Consumer Protection Punjab,Dr.Kiran Khurshid said a large-scale operation has been launched across the province on the directions of the Chief Minister Punjab to ensure the availability of essential food items at officially notified prices.

In a statement on Monday,she said that over the past three days,price control magistrates conducted raids at more than 208,000 locations,taking strict action against over 1,500 profiteers involved in overcharging.

65 cases were registered for profiteering and 1,075 profiteers were arrested.

Action was also intensified against 675 shopkeepers for failing to display official price lists with fines exceeding Rs.5.564 million imposed.

To ensure the sale of broiler chicken at fixed rates,magistrates inspected 10,979 shops.

During the inspections,48 shopkeepers were found without price lists and 962 chicken sellers were involved in overcharging.

Ten cases were registered,over 80 chicken sellers were arrested and fines exceeding Rs.469,000 were imposed.

Similarly,action was taken against traders involved in profiteering of lentils,with 17 shopkeepers penalized for missing price lists and 328 traders found overcharging.

Five cases were registered,189 shopkeepers were arrested and fines exceeding Rs.80,000 were imposed.

Dr.Kiran Khurshid said that on the Chief Minister’s directives,the food safety department,district administration and price control magistrates were fully active to provide relief to the public.

She added that a proposal to increase the number of price control magistrates was under consideration to ensure essential commodities remain available at official rates.

She further emphasized that the operations will continue with the same intensity even after the holy month of Ramadan.