Punjab Ombudsman takes action against overpriced, unsafe food items
LAHORE: The Punjab Ombudsman's Office has taken swift action on public complaints and initiated effective measures against those involved in the sale of overpriced, substandard, and harmful food items across the province.
The Office of the Punjab Ombudsman directed that the action be taken after inspections and on-site verification of facts in various cities and regions.
During the operations carried out by the price control magistrates and the officials of Punjab Food Authority, the prices and quality of daily-use items such as chicken, fish, meat, milk, eggs, cooking oil, beverages, and fried foods were thoroughly examined on the directions of Punjab Ombudsman. Violations of fixed prices and the sale of low-quality products were observed at multiple locations.
In response, substantial fines were imposed. So far, fines to the tune of Rs.600,000 have been imposed. Additionally, strict action was taken against hotels and restaurants for poor hygiene and the provision of unsafe food. Fines were also imposed where environmental pollution and unacceptable cleanliness conditions were found. According to the spokesperson, the objective of these actions is to ensure the availability of safe, high-quality, and fairly priced food items for citizens.
The Ombudsman directed that a zero-tolerance policy be strictly enforced against overpricing, adulteration, and the sale of substandard goods.
These prompt and effective measures have been appreciated at the public level, and complainants have expressed gratitude to the Ombudsman's Office for acting swiftly on their requests, resulting in the immediate resolution of public issues.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Express Tribune
6 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Driven by ME ceasefire, PSX soars over 6,000 points
Listen to article Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) skyrocketed over 6,000 points on Tuesday as US President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire between Israel and Iran, bringing an end to hostilities in the Middle East region. The benchmark KSE-100 index surged at the open, where bullish momentum drove it to the intra-day high of 122,725, up 6,557 points. As the session progressed, investor confidence strengthened, culminating in the KSE-30 index hitting its upper circuit breaker — a rare and historic moment that sent a wave of excitement. At the close of trading, the KSE-100 index recorded an increase of 6,079.17 points, or 5.23%, and settled at 122,246.64. According to JS Global analyst Mubashir Anis Naviwala, the PSX soared as the ceasefire in the Middle East triggered a buying spree. 'Just seconds after the market halt ended, the KSE-100 index surged over 6,500 points, sparking widespread euphoria,' he said. Bullish sentiment dominated the entire session, pushing the index to the intra-day high of 122,725. Investors jumped in across sectors, encouraged by signs of geopolitical de-escalation. 'Near-term outlook remains positive, with fresh opportunities in cement, banking and fertiliser sectors,' the analyst added. Topline Securities, in its review, commented that the local bourse opened with a bang as investors cheered the breakthrough ceasefire agreement between Israel and Iran, which brought a welcome pause to rising geopolitical tensions in the region. Riding on this wave of optimism, the KSE-100 index surged at the open, clocking in an eye-popping 4,202-point jump from the previous close. The bullish momentum intensified as the session progressed, culminating in a historic moment, when the KSE-30 index hit its upper circuit breaker — an exceptionally rare feat, Topline said. The KSE-100 index went on to post the intra-day high of 6,557 points, before settling at 122,246, up a whopping 6,079 points, or 5.23%, for the day. It was a remarkable session that reflected renewed investor confidence and a broader risk-on sentiment returning to the market, it added. Overall trading volumes increased to 804.8 million shares compared with Monday's tally of 595 million. The value of shares traded was Rs37.6 billion. Shares of 477 companies were traded. Of these, 407 stocks closed higher, 35 fell, and 35 remained unchanged. WorldCall Telecom was the volume leader with trading in 65.4 million shares, gaining Rs0.11 to close at Rs1.46. It was followed by K-Electric with 54.3 million shares, gaining Rs0.35 to close at Rs5.24, and Cnergyico PK with 37.9 million shares, gaining Rs0.53 to close at Rs7.16.
Business Recorder
15 hours ago
- Business Recorder
KSE-100 surges over 5,000 points as ceasefire hopes drive rally
Buying spree returned to the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) as investors rejoiced after US President Donald Trump said Iran and Israel had agreed to a ceasefire, with the benchmark KSE-100 Index gaining over 5,000 points during the intra-day trading on Tuesday. At 10:40am, the benchmark index was hovering at 121,220.80 level, an increase of 5,053.33 points or 4.35%. Across-the-board buying was observed in key sectors including automobile assemblers, commercial banks, oil and gas exploration companies, OMCs, power generation and refinery. Index-heavy stocks including HUBCO, ARL, SSGC, PSO, MARI, OGDC, PPL, POL, UBL and HBL traded in the green. 'The ceasefire announcement and a 3-4% drop in international oil prices are driving the buying rally at the bourse,' said Sana Tawfik, Head of Research at Arif Habib Limited (AHL), told Business Recorder. 'The market believes the geopolitical situation will now come under control,' she added. Intense selling pressure gripped the PSX on Monday amid escalating geopolitical tensions following a US attack on Iran, with the benchmark KSE-100 settling with a loss of nearly 3,900 points. At close, the KSE-100 Index settled at 116,167.47 level, a decrease of 3,855.77 points or 3.21%. Internationally, global shares rallied and the dollar extended declines on Tuesday after US President Donald Trump said Iran and Israel had agreed to a ceasefire, sending oil prices into a deep dive as concerns over supply disruptions ebbed. While an Iranian official earlier confirmed that Tehran had agreed to a ceasefire, the country's foreign minister said there would be no cessation of hostilities unless Israel stopped its attacks. Oil prices fell over 3%, having already slid 9% on Monday when Iran made a token retaliation against a US base, which came to nothing and signalled it was done for now. With the immediate threat to the vital Strait of Hormuz shipping lane seemingly over, U.S. crude futures fell another 3.4% to $66.15 per barrel, the lowest since June 11. Risk assets rallied, with S&P 500 futures up 0.6% and Nasdaq futures 0.9% higher. EUROSTOXX 50 futures jumped 1.3% and FTSE futures rose 0.4%. The MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan jumped 1.8% while Japan's Nikkei rallied 1.4%. This is an intra-day update
Business Recorder
18 hours ago
- Business Recorder
Pakistan govt to recover Rs1.938trn from power consumers in 6 years
ISLAMABAD: The federal government is to recover $ 6.7 billion (Rs 1.938 trillion) in six years from power consumers across the country through Debt Service Surcharge (DSS) of Rs 3.23 per unit, which is being uncapped to meet any variation in recovery to meet the target, well informed sources in Power Division told Business Recorder. Central Power Purchasing Agency-Guaranteed (CPPA-G) and the scheduled banks alongwith allocated amounts will sign the pacts once clarity on worth of assets of few Discos is received by the Power Division. 'There is ambiguity on the total amount to be raised. It will be either 1.21 trillion, Rs 1.25 trillion or Rs 1.275 trillion,' the sources added. Nepra's decisions on KE tariffs: Power Div. flags potential consumers harm, urges revision The names of banks, which have entered into the agreement with the CPPA-G as Agent of power Distribution Companies are as follows: (i)Meezan Bank Limited ;(ii) Habib Bank Limited ;(iii) National Bank of Pakistan;(iv) Allied Bank Limited;(v) United Bank Limited ;(vi) Faysal Bank Limited ;(vii) Bank Al Habib Limited;(viii) MCB Bank Limited ;(ix) Bank Alfalah Limited;(x) Dubai Islamic Bank Limited;(xi) The Bank of Punjab ;(xii) Bank Islami Pakistan Limited;(xiii) Askari Bank Limited ;(xiv) Habib Metropolitan Bank Limited ;(xv) Al Baraka Bank Limited ;(xvi) Bank of Khyber ;(xvii) MCB Islamic and ;(xviii) Soneri Bank Limited. Last week, the federal cabinet approved the following proposals of Power Division with minor amendments in a couple of proposed clauses: (i) CPPA-G has been directed (as agent on behalf of DISCOs) to perform public service obligations and undertake related activities in relation to circular debt stock financing and settlement in terms of Section 7(4) read with Schedule II of the SOE Act as per the proposed terms reflected in the indicative term sheet (Annex-VII) to be executed by CPPA-G for and on behalf of DISCOs and execute 'CD Restructuring, Settlement and Subscription Agreement (CDRSSA)' between the Government of Pakistan, DISCOs and CPPA-G;(ii) Authorized the Ministry of Energy (Power Division) to execute relevant documents as may be required on behalf of the Government of Pakistan per the terms and conditions reflected in the indicative term sheet and to execute the Agreement;(iii) authorized the Ministry of Energy (Power Division) to direct DISCOs to execute relevant instruments and create such security as may be required for the purposes of the financing reflected in the indicative term sheet;(iv) approve the draft amendment in Section 31(8) of the Regulation of Generation, Transmission and Distribution of Electric Power Act, 1997 and the draft legislation be made part of the Finance Bill 2025-26;(v) approved immediate release to CPPA-G and utilization of Rs. 267 billion, already budgeted and available in power division demand no 33 under the head of GoP investment in DISCOs equity. Rs. 267 billion would be reduced to the extent of the K-Electric TDS utilization; (vi) approve technical supplementary grant of Rs. 393 billion from finance division demand no. 45 to power division demand no. 33 to be immediately released to CPPA-G under the head of GoP investment in DISCOs equity; (vii) authorized CPPA-G to utilize amounts to pay off the negotiated payables of Government-owned Power Plants (GPPs). Excess amount, if any, after payment of GPPs shall be utilized for payment to Uch-I & Uch-II for onward payment to OGDCL; (viii) authorized CPPA-G to utilize part of the proceeds raised under the aforementioned term sheet to settle and retire the outstanding debt obligations of Rs. 683.253 billion of PHL; (ix) authorized CPPA-G to disburse payments to the respective IPPs from the bank financing subject to waive Late Payment Interest (LPI) by the IPPs; (x) approve the draft amendments in Section 3(3) of the Sales Tax Act, 1990 and Section 113(3)(a) of the Income Tax Ordinance, 2001 and the draft legislation be made part of the Finance Bill 2025-26; (xi) the Term Sheet being negotiated is substantially lower than the banking sector benchmark/interbank profit rates, and to approve the exemption from the bidding under PPRA Rules; and (xii) approve the amendment in Rule-5 of the 'Pakistan Energy Sukuk Rules, 2019' as follows '5-Redemption. - The Sukuk shall be redeemable before maturity'. On June 18, 2025, the cabinet further directed that the amendments proposed in the Regulation of Generation, Transmission and Distribution of Electric Power Act, 1997 in the summary shall be further amended as presented during the Cabinet meeting, and will be made part of the Finance Bill, 2025 after legal vetting by the Law and Justice Division. The amendments proposed in the statutes will be made part of the Finance Bill, 2025 after legal vetting by the Law and Justice Division and amendments proposed in the rules about term sheets will be vetted from the legal point of view by the Law and Justice Division. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
