ABBOTTABAD: At least 28 hotels, shops and houses were sealed in the Donga Gali area by the Galiyat Development Authority (GDA) on the second day of an anti-encroachment drive on Tuesday.

The authority had sealed 34 hotels, shops and plazas for illegal and unauthorised constructions after the drive was launched on Monday, a GDA spokesman told mediapersons.

The anti-encroachment drive in Galiyat was started on the directives of Peshawar High Court, which had set May 25 as the deadline for removal of all illegal and unauthorised constructions, especially high rise buildings.

A few days ago, GDA started removing encroachments but its staff faced stiff resistance from the traders who blocked the road and also injured the GDA staff and damaged its vehicles.

A case was lodged against the protesters and eight persons were booked. Later, on the intervention of local elders and members of district council, a 14-member committee was formed to look after the encroachment drive and facilitate the GDA officials.

On Tuesday, the GDA staff headed by director Khalid Khan along with heavy contingent of police, assistant commissioner and other officials of the district administration sealed at least 10 hotels, five residential buildings for illegal commercial activity and other illegal houses.

GDA media in-charge Ahsan Hameed said the anti-encroachment drive would be conducted according to the by-laws of the authority and no one would be spared.

He said those who voluntarily removed encroachments would not be penalised.

PRICE REVIEW MEETING: Abbottabad Deputy Commissioner Capt Aurangzeb refused to increase the prices of food items on the request of representatives of traders association during a meeting on Tuesday.

He warned that special teams would ensure adherence to the official rate list during Ramazan and action would be taken against the violators.

The deputy commissioner directed tandoor owners to increase the weight of roti (bread) from 170 to 180 gram during Ramazan.

It was decided to display the prices of food items in the vegetable market and in the main city thoroughfares.

The meeting also constituted teams to monitor the prices of food items and directed to ensure smooth supply of food items to the consumers.

Published in Dawn, May 24th, 2017