GUJRAT: An anti-smuggling squad of the Customs on Wednesday sealed 13 petrol pumps during a crackdown for illegally selling the smuggled oil.

The crackdown has been launched on the directions of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) in various parts of the district.

The squad led by Assistant Commissioner Customs Ameen Kazmi with Sialkot collector Faiz Ali and Inspector Adnan as members inspected various petrol pumps in three tehsils of the district and examined the stock as well as the record of sale and purchase.

The team sealed eight petrol pumps in Gujrat tehsil and five in Sara-i-Alamgir whereas show-cause notices have also been issued to the owners and management of sealed pumps who have been asked to submit their response within a week.

The AC Customs said it was suspected that the owners of these filling stations had been involved in selling the smuggled petrol and a proper chance had been given to them to explain their position within the stipulated time period.

Meanwhile, Gujrat Assistant Commissioner Suleman Zafar Dhothar in an operation confiscated a large number of plastic bags from different shopping centres and shops in commercial areas along Sargodha Road’s Staff Gala and adjoining streets.

The local administration has banned the use of these bags in the light of the orders of the Lahore High Court.

Anti-encroachment drive: The Lalamusa Municipal Committee (MC) removed on Wednesday illegal structures along the greenbelt between GT Road and the service road.

These platforms stood for years causing an inconvenience to pedestrians and motorists besides affecting the aesthetic appeal of the greenbelts.

The anti-encroachment drive was launched on Tuesday. On Wednesday, it cleaned Committee Road and its adjoining commercial localities with machinery to instantly remove the concrete structures from the front of shops and shopping plazas.

The Lalamusa MC has also announced launching the operation in the main bazaar of the city where almost every shopkeeper has encroached up to four-feet of roads making it difficult for the locals to move in the area.

In an announcement on Wednesday, the Markazi Anjuman Tajran of Lalamusa asked the traders to remove encroachments in front of their shops voluntarily and remain within the yellow line of their shops. They should not even place any product out of the shutter of their shops otherwise the association may not extend any help to the traders in case of legal action.

It is learnt that the traders had developed concrete platforms at greenbelt areas with the connivance of MC officials.

Published in Dawn, January 14th, 2021