LAKKI MARWAT: Several illegal shops were demolished in the anti-encroachment operation here on Friday.

The railway employees pulled down shops and other illegal structures built on the railway land in Michenkhel Bazaar using heavy machinery.

Pakistan Railways special magistrate Quratul Ain Wazir supervised the action, which was carried out on the directions of Pakistan Railways Peshawar divisional superintendant Naser Khalil.

The policemen were deployed there in large numbers to prevent any untoward incident.

Ms Wazir told reporters that the land measuring over two kanals and valuing over Rs30 million was retrieved from illegal occupants during the operation.

She said the occupants had approached the court to claim the land’s ownership.

“After three years litigation, the case was decided in favour of the Pakistan Railways and thus, paving the way for the launch of the anti-encroachment operation,” she said.

The magistrate said anti-encroachment operations would be carried across the province to remove encroachments from the railway land.

BAZAARS INSPECTED: A team of the district food department paid surprise visits to several bazaars of Lakki city on Friday to check prices and implementation of food laws.

District food controller Mohammad Hayat had constituted a special team to inspect food outlets and other commercial places in city bazaars.

AFC Samiullah led the team, which inspected meat and poultry shops and checked prices and availability of foodstuffs. Several traders were booked for violating the laws.

Mr Samiullah said the food department would ensure the implementation of laws by shopkeepers and provision of foodstuffs to the people at controlled rates.

Published in Dawn, February 2nd, 2019