Punjab restores price magistrates
Punjab has restored the price magistrate system after nearly 20 years to regulate essential commodity prices and tackle hoarding and black-market practices. The initiative has begun in Lahore and is due to expand across the province.
LAHORE: The Punjab Home Department has decided to bring back the magistracy system after nearly two decades as part of an effort to check inflation, regulate the prices of food and other essential items, and act against hoarding and black-market activity.
The move has formally started in Lahore, where nine full-time price magistrates have been appointed. They have been given round-the-clock powers under Section A14 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.
Similar appointments are expected in Rawalpindi before the presentation of the provincial budget. The system is then planned to be extended to all 44 districts of Punjab from the 2026-27 financial year.
The price magistrate system had been abolished during the second term of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto following a judicial ruling by former chief justice Sajjad Ali Shah. After that, the powers and cases previously handled by magistrates were transferred to civil judges.
Comments
No comments yet. Be the first to join the discussion!
