SWABI: The district administration has failed to implement the new price list it issued by on Oct 19, consumers complained here on Sunday.

After the recent reduction in the oil prices and strengthening of the rupee against the US dollar, the district administration had issued a new price list of essential commodities, including fruits and vegetables, and also reduced the public transport fare, but traders and transporters are not ready to give any heed to the administration’s directive.

“The traders are in no mood to implement the revised price list,” Gul Mohammed of Maneri village said.

Khalid Amin, a commuter on way to Topi from Swabi Adda area, told Dawn that the transporters were charging the old fare of Rs60 from Swabi to Topi despite reduction in fares announced by the district administration.

He said only issuing the fare list and then not ensuring its implementation was not enough.

The commuters said distance from Zaida Bazaar to Kunda Mor area was just three kilometers, but the rickshaw drivers charged them Rs40 fare.

The Swabi deputy commissioner was repeatedly contacted to know his version about the matter, but his mobile phone remained switched off.

Meanwhile, rain lashed parts of the district on Sunday.

The farmers said above-normal rainfall during the current year had damaged their maize crop at very crucial stage of ripening Khalid Khan, district president of Kisan Board, said frequent rains caused losses to farmers. He demanded that the government provide interest-free loans to growers to make up for the damage to crops.

KILLED: A woman was killed and five others, including four women, were injured when a van fell into a ditch while negotiating a sharp turn on a road in the mountainous Gadoon Amazai area on Sunday.

Police and Rescue 1122 officials said the van was going to Haripur from Gadoon Amazai region. They added the driver lost control over the steering in Gul Shah mountainous area while negotiating the sharp turn.

The injured also included the van driver, Mushtaq Khan.

They were shifted to the Tehsil Headquarters Hospital, Topi. Among the injured, two women were stated to be in a critical condition.

Published in Dawn, October 23rd, 2023