Islamabad: Federal Minister for Law and Justice Dr Farogh Naseem on Sunday said that severe punishments will be meted out to hoarders as the country’s battle against Covid-19 intensifies.
Addressing a news conference in Islamabad on Sunday, he said the new ordinance contains three-year sentence, summary trial and confiscation of the material for hoarding of wheat, sugar, flour, ghee, sanitizers, face masks and other essential items.
“Anyone who is involved in hoarding will face severe punishments. As per our ordinance, it will be a criminal offence to be involved in hoarding. The perpetrator will face three years in jail, summary trials, heavy fines of up to 50 per cent, confiscations and more,” the law minister stated.
The Minister said an anti-smuggling law is also being brought to prevent smuggling of dollars and essential commodities such as sugar and wheat through undeclared routes.
He said the government will not let anyone exploit the prevailing situation. Farogh Nasim said a law about industries is also being prepared.
