Commissioner orders action against spurious drug dealers

RAWALPINDI: Commissioner Rawalpindi, Zahid Saeed on Wednesday has directed DCOs of Districts of Rawalpindi Division to conduct checking and raids to take strict action under law against shopkeepers involved in sale of spurious drugs, hoarding , adulteration and profiteering.

He also emphasized to expedite on going action against illegal occupants of government and private lands (Qabza Mafia) to recover lands occupied illegally by them.

The Commissioner directed the DCOs to speedily complete on going procedure including indication of land in Rawalpindi for Ashiana Housing Scheme in the light of the instructions of Chief Minister Punjab Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif.

He issued these instructions while presiding a high level review meeting held in his office on Wednesday regarding initiating and expediting campaign against profiteers, qabza mafia, hoarders and those involved in sale of spurious and substandard medicines, drinks and other food items.

DCOs, Rawalpindi, Jhelum, Chakwal and Attock Saqib Zafar, Mirza Mehmood ul Hasan, Tariq Waqar Bakhshi and Shakeel Ahmed and Additional Commissioner Ch.Habib ullah, Divisional and District officers of Health, Agriculture and other concerned departments attended the meeting.

The Commissioner said that DCOs of districts of Rawalpindi Division should mobilize teams and committees constituted for taking action against adulteration, hoarding, illegal occupants and profiteers and strict action under be ensured against such elements. Zahid Saeed added that the shopkeepers who despite of fines and legal action indulged again in profiteering, hoarding, and price hike should be arrested on the spot and strict legal action be ensured.

Similarly, no leniency be shown to illegal occupants who have grabbed government and private land unlawfully, he added.

The Commissioner further directed the DCOs that they should complete arrangements regarding establishing Ramazan Bazars well before the sacred month begins and the planning for establishing stalls in Ramazan Bazars, selection of sites, arrangement of parking and provision of other facilities including medical aid camp be finalized well before so that Ramazan Bazars may become functional on the very first day of the Ramazan.

He also emphasized that availability of vegetables, fruits, sugar, cooking oil/ghee, mutton and beef and other Karyana items be ensured in Ramazan Bazars on cheaper rates as compared to the general market.

He said that the shopkeepers involved in adulteration, sale and manufacturing of substandard food and edible items and spurious drugs be arrested on the spot and strict legal action be ensured against them.

He further gave instructions that the teams of administration, concerned department and special price control magistrates should conduct raid and checking in markets on regular basis to make the drive successful. He also directed the teams of administration, health, labour, and other concerned departments to submit report of their action in this respect on daily basis to their respective DCOs and department district and divisional heads and such reports should also be sent to the Commissioner s office on day to day basis.

DCOs of Rawalpindi, Attock, Jhelum and Chakwal presented briefing about the raids and checking conducted by the teams in their respective districts.

DCO Rawalpindi, Saqib Zafar informed that government land of Forest Department have been recovered from the illegal occupant in Murree and Rawalpindi and teams are also taking action against illegal encroachers and occupants on the both bank sides of nullah leh.

The DCO Jhelum informed that 818 Kanal out of 840 kanal of government land have been recovered from illegal occupants in Jhelum besides recovery of lands of the irrigation department in the District.