New Delhi, May 7 -- In the wake of India's missile strikes on terror targets in Pakistan following the deadly Pahalgam attack, the government is preparing to invoke the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) to prevent profiteering and ensure steady supplies of essential commodities, two government officials told Mint.

ESMA empowers the government to prohibit strikes and ensure the uninterrupted delivery of essential services vital to public welfare. During the Covid-19 pandemic, it was invoked to prevent disruption in healthcare, transport, and supply chains.

India launched the precision strikes under 'Operation Sindoor' in the early hours of Wednesday, hitting four locations-Muridka and Bahawalpur in Pakistan's Punjab, and Kotli an...