Nine arrested, shops sealed over profiteering

LAHORE, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 9th May, 2026) The district administration, under the supervision of Deputy Commissioner Lahore Muhammad Ali Ejaz, imposed fines amounting to Rs256,000, arrested nine profiteers and sealed nine shops during a crackdown against overpricing and hoarding in different markets of the provincial capital.

According to a spokesperson, price control magistrates and administrative teams carried out 4,160 field inspections across the city to ensure availability of essential food items at officially notified prices and maintain a stable supply chain. During the inspections, 78 violations of price regulations were reported and legal action was taken against the offenders.

The spokesperson said the prices of several vegetables and fruits witnessed a decline due to improved supply management. The price of peas decreased by Rs50 per kilogram, while cauliflower and bitter gourd registered a reduction of Rs20 per kilogram. Tomato prices dropped by Rs15 per kilogram to Rs25, while apples and melons also became cheaper in city markets.

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He said prices of other essential commodities, including potatoes, onions, ginger and bananas, remained stable. Authorities attributed the stability to consistent arrivals of produce in wholesale markets, including 53 trucks of onions, 41 trucks of potatoes and 12 trucks of tomatoes.

The district administration directed all price control magistrates to ensure strict implementation of official rate lists and maintain close monitoring of the supply chain to prevent artificial inflation, hoarding and profiteering.

Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Ali Ejaz said better supply chain management and strict market monitoring had improved conditions in markets and bazaars, adding that the administration was pursuing a zero-tolerance policy against profiteering to protect consumers. He urged citizens to report complaints related to overpricing through the district administration’s control room at 0307-0002345 or via official social media platforms.