KARACHI: Chief Secretary Sindh Dr Muhammad Sohail Rajput Monday directed all the divisional commissioners to take stern action against profiteers and hoarders and impose heavy fines against them besides sealing their business for a long time if found unsatisfactory.

He said this while presiding over an important meeting on price control of essential commodities in the province. The meeting was attended by Commissioner Karachi Muhammad Iqbal Memon, Secretary Food Raja Khurram Shahzad, Secretary Agriculture Supply and Price Aijaz Ahmed Mahesar while Commissioners of Hyderabad, Sukkur, Shaheed Benazirabad and Larkana attended it through video link.

In the meeting, the Divisional Commissioners while briefing about the actions taken in the month of May 2022 regarding price control said that 1,0371 shops were inspected in the month of May in the province and a fine of Rs34,16,200 was imposed on unsatisfactory 1137 units.

The meeting was told that 672 profiteers were fined Rs 2,962,000 in Karachi, 200 unsatisfactory units were fined 342,500 in Hyderabad division, 62 shopkeepers were fined 21000 in Larkana, 27 units were fined 15,000 in Mirpur Khas and a fine of Rs 53,000 was imposed on 100 units Shaheed Benazirabad.

The chief secretary Sindh said that heavy fines should be imposed on profiteers and business should be sealed for a long time, making them to follow government rates. He directed the commissioners to monitor the action against the profiteers themselves.

Instructing, the commissioner Karachi to meet the representatives of Flour Mill Association, he said that there was no shortage of wheat in the city, but why the price of flour in the city was higher than other cities. He said that in any case, the prices of flour, ghee and sugar in Karachi should be controlled. He said that he had received complaints of hoarding of flour and ghee in the city and Commissioner Karachi himself should take action against hoarding of flour and ghee and there should be no hoarders in any mill or super store.