The Punjab food safety and consumer protection department fined traders Rs10.627 million for overpricing across the province over the past seven days, Secretary Dr Kiran Khursheed said on Wednesday.
Inspections identified 19,902 violations involving the sale of essential commodities above official rates. Authorities also found 2,168 locations that did not display the prescribed price lists.
Teams carried out 18,774 inspections to check chicken prices and reported more than 1,400 violations, resulting in fines of Rs494,000. In 12,829 inspections to monitor sugar prices, action was taken against 574 violations.
For overpricing of tomatoes, 769 violations were recorded and fines totalling Rs125,500 were imposed. Authorities arrested 56 people for overcharging and other violations and sealed 19 locations.
Dr Khursheed said price control magistrates and enforcement teams are continuing operations in markets across Punjab to ensure essential commodities are sold at notified rates.
She added that field inspections are being made more effective and legal action will continue against shopkeepers and traders who violate fixed prices.