KARACHI - As many as 28 shopkeepers were arrested for selling sugar at exorbitant prices and not obeying the orders of Supreme Court orders, while about 99 shopkeepers were fined during the past two days, The Nation learnt on Wednesday. The DCO Karachi Javed Hanif, on the directives of Supreme Court, directed the Additional EDO Revenue of city government to maintain the sugar prices in the city at Rs40/kg, and implement the SC orders, the spokesman of city government said. It may be noted that despite Supreme Courts order of selling sugar at Rs40/kg, the common citizens in the city, purchasing the sugar at the price of Rs49/kg to Rs52/kg. The wholesalers are selling sugar at Rs47/kg while retail price of sugar is ranging between Rs49 to Rs52 per kilogram across the city. Moreover, the shortage of sugar continued at the utility stores in the metropolis where price was fixed at Rs38/kg. On the directives of DCO Karachi, an increase in the raids was observed by the city magistrates on different shops for the past two days. Market sources told The Nation that these raids have caused panic among the wholesalers and retailers and they were uncertain to face this punitive action of the DCO Karachi. According to the details, it was found that the magistrates have sent 28 shopkeepers to jail so far who were not obeying the orders of the Supreme Court, while about 99 shopkeepers were fined more than one lac rupees in this regard. DCO Karachi warned the wholesalers and retailers to sell the sugar at Rs40/kg otherwise strong actions would be taken against them. He further directed the city magistrates to continue the raids and make sure the availability of sugar in the city at the set price. DCO Karachi further asked the Additional EDO Revenue to conduct raids with the magistrates and submit reports on daily basis. Earlier, Supreme Court had set sugar price at Rs40/share and asked all the provincial governments to make sure the availability of the sugar at the said price in their respective provinces, yet it is seen that government has failed to comply with the Supreme Courts orders. These raids were in connection with the SC orders and it is expected that more raids will be conducted in this regard. It is important to note that a tussle between government and Sugar Mills owners resulted in the failure of availability of sugar even at utility stores on the fixed price by the government, while the wholesalers and the retailers in the city are still busy selling sugar way above the set price by the government. Government has taken number of initiatives to make sure the availability of sugar at Rs40/kg but failed to maintain the price in the city. Sugar was available at Rs47/kg at the citys Jodia Bazaar, while retailers were asking Rs48 to Rs52 for a kilogram. This is also learnt that due to the shortage of sugar in some parts of the city, shopkeepers were charging up to Rs55/kg which is an open violation of the Supreme Courts order.