Racketeering, encroachment, hygiene: City bodies directed to address serious issues

Commissioner orders end to artificial price inflation, encroachment and substandard goods.

PESHAWAR:

On the directives of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa chief minister, Commissioner Peshawar Sahibzada Mohammad Anees on Tuesday directed deputy commissioners, health department and municipal corporation officials to work double shifts to prevent racketeering and encroachment.

Anees was chairing a meeting in his office attended by deputy commissioners (DCs) of Peshawar, Charsadda, and Nowshera. Peshawar Development Authority director general, municipal corporation Peshawar administrator and Peshawar district health officer were also in attendance.

The commissioner directed the officials to take strong action against those looking to swindle the public for a quick buck by selling spurious drugs and substandard food items. DCs were directed to file FIRs against shopkeepers involved in these illegal activities, bring them to justice and impose heavy fines on offenders. They were also directed to deploy officers at fruit and vegetable markets who would issue and monitor the price list regularly.



To end the sale of spurious medicine, the department of health was ordered to inspect drugs and send samples to a laboratory for further examination. Officials of the department were directed to act against individuals and departments involved in such crimes.

Additionally, the city’s municipal corporation and development authorities were asked to take priority steps to clean the roads and streets. They were directed to remove iron and concrete blockades, which had been placed on roads for security purposes, to ensure the smooth flow of traffic.

Moreover, the municipal corporation in particular was ordered to clean Shahi Katha, the city’s main drainage system, and also eradicate encroachments along the drain and in other parts of the city. The commissioners were told to establish complaint cells for the timely resolution of people’s grievances.

Meanwhile, in response to complaints made by the general public, Peshawar DC Javed Marwat directed the Peshawar Additional Assistant Commissioner Mehmood Ahmad to take action against profiteers, following which 10 offenders were arrested.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 5^th, 2013.