ATTOCK: Five Anti-smuggling Check Posts Setup

Five anti-smuggling check posts setup

By Yaqoob Malik

ATTOCK,Aug19: On the directive of Punjab government , the district administration established five check posts at the bordering areas of the district to check the smuggling of subsidized atta(wheat flour) and sugar from Punjab to NWFP as said facility is only for the people of Punjab province in connection of Ramzan, it has been learnt.

Attock district of Punjab’s province connects with NWFP at five major points of Attock khurd on main GT road , Burhan on Islamabad- Peshawar motorway, Jarikus at Hazara road , Khushalgarh on Pindi-Kohat road and Ghorghusti on Terbela road . The district administration setup anti-smuggling check posts on Wednesday at the said bordering areas under the joint supervision of food and revenue officials to control the smuggling of subsidised sugar and atta to NWFP from Attock and others areas of Punjab province. On the contact , the district coordination officer (DCO) Capt (Rtd) Saqib Zafar said that setup of check posts was very essential to control the illegal transportation of both commodities as subsidized sugar and atta is very cheaper then in open market . As rate of subsidised sugar and atta is Rs 40 per kg and Rs 200 per 20 kg bag respectively , whereas in open market sugar is Rs 50 per kg and Rs 530 per 20 kg Atta bag respectively , thus difference of Rs 10 per kg in sugar and Rs 330 on per 20 kg Atta’s bag, he said. Definitely this huge price difference would attract the smugglers and other people to smuggle the both commodities to NWFP to earn illegal profit, where the said subsidy facility on both food commodities is not available, he maintained.

Meanwhile the DCO Mr Zafar informed that 13 special sale points have been setup at the main parts of the district for the sale of subsidized sugar and Atta among the consumers that have already started the sale to facilitate the consumers in their pre-Ramzan shopping . He said special sales points would be increased gradually to facilitate the consumers. Under the provision of Punjab government’s subsidy , sugar is being sold on Rs 40 per kg and 20 kg Atta bag on Rs 200 at these points. The common consumers are very much happy on provision of said clear relief to them for Ramzan, he claimed.

While discribing the update of ongoing anti-sugar hoarding drive, he informed that about 13567 bags of sugar have been seized by the district administration with the assistance of district police till August 17 across the district besides registering nine cases against the nine accused hoarders . He said that operation against the sugar hoarders would continue to seize the illegal sugar stocks . He said that the district administration has also taken the stock declaration of sugar from the all whole sellers and stockiest to ensure it sale on fixed price of Rs 50 per kg in open market.