Zahid Akhtar Zaman Orders Removal of ‘Inactive’ Price Magistrates428 ‘Nigehban Ramadan Dastarkhwans’ Serving Over 100,000 People Daily Across Punjab

By Muhammad Shahzad | Lahore, Pakistan
LAHORE: In a decisive move to control prices during Ramadan, Punjab Chief Secretary Zahid Akhtar Zaman has ordered the immediate removal of all “inactive” price control magistrates, directing that dynamic officers be deputed to ensure effective market monitoring.
The directive was issued during a high-level meeting at the Civil Secretariat on Friday. The Chief Secretary emphasized that the PERA force must focus its full attention on price regulation to ensure that the public receives maximum relief during the holy month.
The meeting reviewed the availability of essential commodities, including flour (atta), sugar, ghee, and vegetables, and issued urgent instructions to stabilize tomato prices. Deputy Commissioners in Lahore and Rawalpindi were directed to further strengthen monitoring mechanisms to prevent artificial price hikes.
The Chief Secretary appreciated arrangements for free meal provision under the “Nigehban Ramadan Dastarkhwan” initiative in Faisalabad and Gujranwala, while confirming expansion plans to Sahiwal, Dera Ghazi Khan, and Bahawalpur.
Officials informed the meeting that authorities inspected more than 61,000 locations across the province on Thursday, detecting over 4,000 violations. This resulted in 381 arrests and fines exceeding Rs 5.5 million. In one case, two stalls at the Madar-e-Millat Ramadan Bazaar were sealed following complaints of overcharging, and show-cause notices were issued to the staff concerned.
The district administration also took disciplinary action in Mianwali, Okara, and Gujrat over irregularities involving “Nigehban Ramadan cards.”
According to the Secretary of the Food Safety and Consumer Protection Department, 428 “Nigehban Ramadan Dastarkhwans” are currently operational across Punjab, serving over 100,000 people daily. Significant quantities of essential food items have been supplied through Ramadan bazaars, including more than 25 metric tons of sugar and 218,000 flour bags. Senior officials are directly supervising auctions at nearly 99 wholesale markets to ensure price stability.
The meeting was attended by the Chief Executive Officer of Urban Unit, Additional IG Special Branch, and other senior officials, while all divisional commissioners and deputy commissioners joined via video link.