LAHORE: Escalating its Ramazan market enforcement, Punjab authorities carried out more than 80,000 inspections in a single day across the province, marking one of the most extensive anti-profiteering drives so far during the holy month. The province-wide crackdown resulted in strict legal action against 5,883 individuals found involved in overcharging consumers, according to the Punjab Secretary of Food Safety. Authorities registered 73 cases on charges of profiteering and arrested 650 violators during the operations. Dr Kiran Khurshid, Secretary of Food Safety, said fines amounting to more than Rs 11.601 million were imposed on traders engaged in unjustified price hikes. She maintained that enforcement teams were actively monitoring markets to ensure that consumers receive essential food items at government-notified prices. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026