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       LAKKI MARWAT: Thirty-seven shopkeepers, mostly butchers, were arrested and several shops were sealed during crackdowns on profiteers in different districts on the second day of Ramazan on Monday as roadside vendors in Lakki city manhandled an additional assistant commissioner for allegedly imposing fines on them.

       Witnesses said that additional assistant commissioner Mohammad Arif was checking prices of flood items and clearing the main Bannu-Mianwali Road of encroachments for smooth flow of traffic when some vendors got furious over the instructions by the administration official to remove their carts from roadsides and attacked him with fists and kicks.

       Mr Arif visited shops on both sides of the artery to address people’s complaints about price hike and encroachments.

       He asked the vendors to vacate the roadsides for smooth flow of traffic.

       Roadside vendors in Lakki city manhandle official

       The manhandling of the official by shopkeepers prompted the policemen to fire gunshots in the air to control the situation and disperse shopkeepers.

       The shopkeepers also gathered on the busy road and kept it closed for some time. Later, they opened the road after their representatives held talks with police officials.

       The shopkeepers alleged that the additional AC repeatedly visited their outlets and imposed fines on small vendors.

       Meanwhile, Bannu division commissioner Mohammad Ali Shah has also asked the deputy commissioners to ensure availability of sugar, price regulations and cleanliness during the fasting month.

       “The administrative prudence and respect of vendors should be the guiding principles during the campaign without any compromise on profiteering and hoarding,” he maintained, making clear that all relevant officers should be on ground without any fail and price monitoring report should be shared on a daily basis.

       In Bajaur, the district administration arrested eight butchers and owners of two confectionery shops for violating the official price list.

       The arrests were made during raids in different bazaars in Khar and Sadiqabad areas, said a statement issued from the deputy commissioner’s office.

       It said the action against the butchers was taken on public complaints.

       The arrested butchers were later sent to the assistant commissioner’s office for further legal action. The statement said the confectionery shops were also sealed.

       In Shangla, the district administration initiated a crackdown on shopkeepers and butchers for fleecing consumers and selling substandard, unhygienic food items.

       Deputy commissioner Mohammad Fawad Khan on Monday told Dawn that he had directed all the assistant commissioners to keep the prices of essential items under check.

       He said 18 traders, including butchers, and restaurant managers, were booked and FIRs lodged against them in Alpuri, Bisham, Puran, Chakesar, Martung.

       He said over three dozen shops were sealed.

       DC Shangla said complaint desks had been established in major bazaars where people could lodge their complaints against the shopkeepers for hoarding and profiteering.

       Alpuri assistant commissioner Mohammad Hamid Saddiqui said price lists were updated daily and provided to the shopkeepers.

       In Abbottabad, the district administration arrested nine butchers for selling meat at high prices.

       On the instructions of deputy commissioner Captain retired Sanaullah Khan, special price control teams have been formed, which are inspecting markets on a daily basis to ensure implementation of price list and take prompt action on public complaints.

       Legal action was also taken against several shopkeepers for selling chicken and other essential items at exorbitant prices. Moreover, under supervision of additional assistant commissioner (revenue) Arshad Mahmood, prices of vegetables, fruits and poultry products were fixed in consultation with price control magistrate, union staff, representatives of the food department and business community.

       In Mansehra, the price of locally grown (indigenous) chicken surged to a record high of Rs1,000 per kilogramme on Monday while the rates of fruits and other essential commodities also skyrocketed with the advent of Ramazan.

       “Though desi chicken is not commonly consumed here, its price has jumped to Rs1,000 per kg. Poultry products have also experienced a price hike with the beginning of the holy month,” said Mohammad Azam, a chicken seller on Abbottabad Road.

       Meanwhile, broiler chicken is being sold at Rs460 per kg, and the Egyptian hen (commonly known as Misri Murghi here) is being sold at Rs800 per kg. The price of eggs has also increased suddenly in local markets.

       “Before Ramazan, eggs were sold at Rs220 per dozen, but they are now priced at Rs288 per dozen,” a resident, Sadaqat Ali said.

       He said although the district administration has set different rates for eggs based on weight, traders continued to sell them at uniform prices without considering weight variations.

       “The administration has fixed the price of eggs weighing 40 to 50 grams at Rs268 per dozen, but traders are still selling them at higher rates,” he said.

       Though the district administration has not fixed the price of garlic in its price list, it is still currently being sold at Rs800 per kg. “While the administration regularly issues price lists for fruits and vegetables shopkeepers and traders continue to overcharge buyers,” Mr Ali added.

       Published in Dawn, March 4th, 2025