August 15, 2008	Friday	Sha'aban 12, 1429

VEHARI, Aug 14: The fireworks business is booming in Vehari district despite cancellation of licences of all manufacturers and dealers of fireworks in the province. As usual, the district administration and police have failed to take any steps to check the menace despite repeated complaints by citizens.

According to a survey conducted by this correspondent, this illegal business has picked up in almost all parts of the district. Dozens of small fireworks manufacture units are working without any fear of action from authorities in Luddan, Machiwal, Gagoo, Mitroo, Garhamor, Chakrala, Karampur, Tibba Sultanpur, Jallajeem, Dokota, Muslim Town, Pipli Adda, Sheikh Fazal, Sahooka, Chak 19/WB, 21/WB, 23/WE and Thingi Colony.

Many of these units have been set up in mud houses and those working at these units, including women and children, are unaware of any safety rules. As a result, the fire caused by fireworks has injured at least 12 people at these units over the last one year. Most of people owning these units hire workers between the ages of 8 to 12 for Rs40 to Rs50 per day. About 1,000 to 1,500 families are associated with this business across the district.

The owner of one of these fireworks manufacture units says he has to bribe inspection teams of police and district administration to run his business smoothly, adding there is no crackdown if police are bribed.

The owner of another fireworks unit says every year officials seal his unit ahead of Shab-e-Barat or Independence Day, but he gives them a few thousand rupees and gets his business going again.

According to a source, several people have stored huge quantities of material used in manufacture of fireworks in storehouses and residential areas of the Vehari city to earn profits on Shab-e-Barat.

An official of the district administration, who asked not to be named, said the fireworks business was growing in the district for the last many years despite a ban on it. He said most of these units were storing huge quantities of explosives, especially ahead of special occasions like Shab-e-Barat and Independence Day, so that they could make fireworks and earn huge profits.

District Coordination Officer Khurram Aga said he had asked the police to take action against those involved in the fireworks business immediately after the Punjab government slapped a ban on the business, but the police did not care about his directive. He said he could not do anything if the police was not doing its job.

District Police Officer Asher Hameed was not available for a comment. However, Superintendent of Police for Investigation Muhammad Kashif said the DCO had cancelled the licences of all fireworks manufacturers some time ago, but the police did not know that this business was still running without any check. He said he would look into it.