Authorities sealed two sugar mills in Sargodha and Faisalabad, besides seizing 100 bags of sugar in Lahore, 480 bags in Sargodha, 960 bags in Sahiwal, and 6757 metric tonnes of the sweetener in Rahim Yar Khan.
LAHORE: On the direction of Chief Minister Punjab Usman Buzdar to ensure the availability of sugar at the officially-fixed price, the provincial government has intensified a crackdown on hoarders, sealing two sugar mills and seizing hundreds of bags of the commodity during raids in different cities.
Acting on tip-offs from the Special Branch, the district administrations along with the food department and police teams conducted raids in Lahore, Sargodha, Sahiwal, Faisalabad, and Rahim Yar Khan.
The authorities sealed two sugar mills in Sargodha and Faisalabad, besides seizing 100 bags of sugar in Lahore, 480 bags in Sargodha, 960 bags in Sahiwal, and 6757 metric tonnes of the sweetener in Rahim Yar Khan. The seized sugar will be sold in the market at the official rate.
Chief Secretary Punjab Kamran Ali Afzal said that those fleecing consumers by creating an artificial shortage of essential commodities would be dealt with with iron hands. He maintained that the crackdown on the hoarders would continue without any discrimination.
He said that the sale of sugar more than the ex-mill price of Rs 84.75 and retail price of Rs 89.75 per kg would not be allowed in any case. He directed the administrative officers to take stern action against those selling the sweetener above the fixed rate. He mentioned that officials have been deployed in all sugar mills to keep a check on stocks.
