July 17, 2015
News
Peshawar heaves sigh of relief in Ramazan
* DC says price-control committees include govt officials, police, journalists and market representativesPESHAWAR: The deputy commissioner’s office took a several initiatives in Ramazan to facilitate people.
According to a press briefing, DC Riaz Khan Mehsud formed 12 teams under the supervision of assistant commissioners and additional assistant commissioners. The teams were tasked to ensure availability of essentials at the government’s prescribed rates.
During Ramazan, the teams inspected 9,640 premises, arrested 1,782 people for overcharging or selling low-quality food. A record fine of Rs 5.66 million was levied against the violators.
The DC office also informed that general public was taking advantage of the DCP 8,333 text message service that was launched by the office in April 2015. In Ramazan, 578 complaints were received through the two-way SMS system. Of these complaints, 260 were regarding cleanliness and municipal services delivery, 206 complaints were regarding over pricing, 29 regarding encroachments and 25 against revenue. The remaining complaints by the citizens were regarding education, health and infrastructure development.
The office claimed to have resolved 348 complaints in the month.
Similarly, it along with the Transport Department, Municipal Corporation, Traffic Police and transporters association took action against those charging heavy fares.
The transport owners at four bus stations of Peshawar were ordered not to overcharge. Four teams headed by an AAC and consisting of a representative of transport, Municipal Corporation and traffic police would stop each and every public transport vehicle at special posts at designated vantage points. The commuters would be asked in the absence of the driver about fares charged and in case of excess fares, the over charged amount was returned to the passengers and tickets were issued to the drivers.
During the last five days of the drive, more than 3,000 vehicles were checked and Rs 760,000 returned to the passengers.
Other steps include the categorisation of men’s tailors and fixing of process for bakery items. First time in District Peshawar, tailors were divided in four categories according to their quality and standard. The upper limit for A+ category tailors was fixed at Rs 800 per suit. Similarly A, B and C categories were set to charge Rs 650, 400 and 300 respectively.
Similarly, A+ bakeries were convinced to sell mix sweets at Rs 370 per kilo compared to Rs 450 before the drive against the bakeries begun.
A number of departmental stores and food shops were raided and sealed during Ramazan for selling expired food items and unhygienic kitchen environment.
DC Riaz Mehsud told Daily Times that the objective behind the drive at different levels was to provide relief to the people.
“We have already been carrying out an unprecedented anti-encroachment drive for the last five months. It continued in Ramazan and 693 illegally constructed cabins and sheds were removed in different areas of Peshawar,” he said.
Mehsud added that market committees comprising of government officials, police, a journalist and a market representative were established in all markets of Hayatabad.
“These committees are mandated to assist in price controlling, encroachment removal and cleanliness. The committees are already functional and looking at the fruitful results, we would establish similar committees in the entire district,” he said.
The DC had imposed a month-long ban on the selling and displaying of toy guns in Peshawar from July 7. Police have arrested a number of shopkeepers for defying the ban. Stocks of the plastic weapons were also confiscated from different markets. Public and civic society members welcomed the ban.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk