At a grocery store in Karachi’s Gulshan-e-Iqbal on Saturday more than 5,000 surgical masks and hand sanitisers were confiscated.

The store had hoarded those materials and hidden them in their storeroom, according to police.

“They had planned to sell the items at overpriced rates after a shortage in the market,” a police officer said.

The operation was performed by station house officer of the Gulshan police station. Authorities have launched further proceedings against the store’s owner.

Since the two products are being used as a precautionary measure against the novel coronavirus, the demand for hand sanitiser and masks has risen in the industry.

Pakistan reported more than 1,200 cases of the virus most of which are from Punjab.

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