CM Maryam warns of ‘strict and indiscriminate action’ against price gouging during Ramazan

• Punjab CM says directives and enforcement measures to be outlined in a meeting scheduled for Monday (today)

 LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on Sunday vowed that “strict and indiscriminate action” would be taken against those hoarding or overpricing essential goods during the upcoming holy month of Ramazan.

“Exploiting citizens in this sacred month will not be tolerated under any circumstances,” the chief minister said in a post on X.

The Government of Punjab will take strict and indiscriminate action against unjustified price hikes and hoarding especially of the essential items, during the holy month of Ramadan. Exploiting citizens in this sacred month will not be tolerated under any circumstances.

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— Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) February 15, 2026

She added that directives and enforcement measures would be outlined in a departmental meeting scheduled for Monday morning (today).

According to the Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (Suparco), the first day of Ramazan is likely to fall on February 19, 2026, though the final announcement will be made by the Ruet-i-Hilal Committee, the sole competent authority, based on credible witness testimonies across Pakistan.

Earlier this week, the Punjab Food Safety and Consumer Protection Department (FS&CP) instructed the Punjab Enforcement and Regulatory Authority (PERA) to ensure the availability of food items at officially notified prices throughout Punjab during Ramazan.

Chairing a preparatory meeting on Monday, FS&CP Special Assistant Salma Butt said the department had completed all arrangements ahead of the holy month. The Punjab CM directed the PERA force to take strict legal action against anyone found overcharging or hoarding essential goods.

The announcement follows Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s Rs38 billion Ramazan Relief Package, unveiled a day earlier, which will be disbursed among deserving families across the four provinces, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

“Rs38 billion will be disbursed through digital bank accounts among 12.1 million families, without discrimination,” the premier said during the PM Ramazan Package 2026 ceremony. Each eligible family will receive Rs13,000 via digital wallet or bank transfer, irrespective of political affiliation.

Of the total package, Rs10 billion is reserved for families already registered under the government’s Kafalat programme. Prime Minister Shehbaz described it as the largest federal-level effort in terms of both scale and challenges for the holy month, emphasizing that the government has undertaken a coordinated strategy to ensure all deserving families receive assistance.

He also assured that the initiative’s progress would be periodically reviewed and thanked international partners for their support, saying, “Together we will achieve this landmark.”

Addressing challenges faced by previous Ramazan packages, the premier noted loopholes including substandard food items and long queues at utility stores, which had compromised the dignity of deserving citizens. “We ended it last year by introducing a digital cash transfer system, replacing the corrupt system with a transparent and efficient one,” he said.

He further highlighted challenges faced by the new system, including banks’ willingness to participate, the underdeveloped cashless economy in Pakistan, and logistical issues encountered by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP).