January 29, 2008	Tuesday	Muharram 19, 1429

RAWALPINDI, Jan 28: Fireworks stores have mushroomed in the city, though not a single licence has been issued to stockists by the district government, which also has on data on the number of such warehouses, it is learnt.

The collapse of a three-storey building in Ganjmandi on Sunday that killed five people and injured eight more was also the result of illegal fireworks business that continues unabated in Rawalpindi.

District Coordination Officer (DCO) Irfan Elahi on Monday confirmed that the local administration had not issued even a single license to anybody for storing fireworks because of the danger posed by the business.

However, sources said the number of such godowns both in city and cantonment areas was in hundreds, a fact even acknowledged by the DCO.

“Yes, I am sure that there are a large number of fireworks stores and godowns in the city that cannot be traced easily. But the police have worked out a plan to locate these stores and seize the business,” Mr Elahi noted.

A search operation will be launched in the city in order to trace out the warehouses and the explosive material will be confiscated, the DCO said, adding that heavy penalties would also be imposed on the owners of such businesses.