Ludhiana, May 13 -- In a bid to curb hoarding and black marketing of essential commodities post panic buying, the district food and supplies department has asked all major retailers, wholesalers, and daily food suppliers in Ludhiana to submit detailed declarations of their current stock levels. The move is aimed at curbing overcharging, and artificial scarcity of food items that are vital to daily life, officials familiar with the matter said.

Notably, earlier the Punjab department of food, civil supplies and consumer affairs had issued a directive on May 9, in response to rising concerns over panic buying among residents amid the border tensions between India and Pakistan.

In its directive, the department has instructed district offici...