TAXILA: At least 14 vendors were arrested and as many shops were sealed for violating official meat prices in Taxila, local administration said on Saturday.

Broiler, beef and mutton prices have skyrocketed in Wah and Taxila with Eid just around the corner.

According to citizens, shopkeepers are openly violating the official rate list, selling chicken at Rs950 per kilogram and beef at Rs1400 per kilogram to capitalise on higher demand.

The administration said during the crackdown, as many as 14 shopkeepers were arrested after summary trials while 14 shops were sealed for violating the official price list.

`A case was registered against the shopkeepers, who received three challans`, an official of the local administration said.

The officials also fined several vendors and shop owners for selling products above the officially regulated rates.Assistant Commissioner Zaryab Sajid Kamboh and other government officials designated as price magistrates paid surprise visits at various markets and in Taxila and Wah Cantonment especially GT Road, Wah Model Town and Lala Rukh to inspect prices and imposed fines worth Rs0.2 million over profiteering.

He interacted with citizens and reviewed complaints at the complaint booth set up by the district administration to address grievancesrelated to price hikes.

During the crackdown, substandard meat in which butchers had allegedly pumped water to enhance its weight was also seized.

Briefing newsmen about the steps taken by the local administration, Assistant Commissioner Zaryab Sajid Kamboh has said that on the directives of Deputy Commissioner Dr Hassan Waqar Cheema, the local administration has intensified its monitoring and regulatory efforts to control prices of essential commodities.

To combat price gouging, the administration is implementing official rate lists.