Chitral: DCO fines profiteers

Report Bashir Hussain Azad, Chitral

DCO Chitral Mustasim Billah paid a surprise visit to Chitral Bazaar and inspected restaurants, poultry market, butcher shops, storehouses of various shops. He expressed dissatisfaction over the poor condition of cleanliness in restaurants, butcher shops and annoyed on the high prices of sugar, rice and chicken.

The DCO fined eight traders on the spot including owners of restaurants, butchers and shopkeepers under section 3/6 for high prices of daily commodities of life, poor cleanliness of restaurants and butcher shops.

The DCO and his team told this correspondent that there is no shortage of essential items in the local market except LPG and milk, and some traders are creating artificial shortage of various items for their vested interests which will be checked properly. To meet the shortage of milk, the DCO immediately permitted the local traders to carry milk laden truck from Peshawar via Kunar Afghanistan road which has reached Jalalabad, reliable sources told this correspondent. To overcome the deficiency of LPG, the DCO assured the people that proper steps will be taken for the provision of LPG very soon. Responding to a question about the power outage in the town area, he said that a high level meeting has been convened today.

People appreciated the sudden inspection of Chitral bazaar by the DCO and hoped that he will continue his visits of Bazaar to check the rising prices and hoarding.