LAHORE: Various teams of the city district administration, including one headed by Punjab Food Minister Bilal Yasin, got 14 people arrested and registered 72 FIRs against a number of naanbais for flouting the notification of new prices of roti and naan at tandoors. The teams also sealed various tandoors.

The minister, according to a spokesperson, visited Shadman and Muslim Town areas to check the prices of roti and naan.

“Habitual criminals must be sent behind bars,” the minister said while reprimanding the additional deputy commissioner (general) for poor monitoring of tandoors. He directed the administration officials to come out of their offices to be in the field to give relief to the public.

Mr Yasin said the new prices had been notified after considering all the statistics and nobody would be allowed to create artificial inflation. He directed the officers to ensure display of the price lists in all the markets.

“The price of flour has been decreased and its impact will be brought to the grassroots. For the first time, the price of a 20kg bag of flour has been reduced by Rs500.”

The minister urged the officers to also ensure the required weight and standard of naan and roti.

On the other hand, Commissioner Muhammad Ali Randhawa held a meeting on implementation of the reduced prices of roti and naan and procurement of wheat. He was told that fines amounting to Rs750,000 were imposed on 433 shops and tandoor owners for violating the official prices of roti and naan. Seventy-two FIRs were registered under which the involved persons were arrested.

LDA: The Lahore Development Authority director general, in a meeting on Tuesday, assigned targets to the directors and focal persons concerned regarding restructuring of the authority.

In the meeting, targets were assigned according to the timeline regarding the enforcement wing, revamp and reforms of one window cell and strengthening of the strategic policy unit. Establishment of marketing directorate, management of LDA properties, sifting of records and timelines of other reforms were also finalised and tasks were assigned in this regard.

“Effective steps should also be taken to facilitate investors under the Ease of Doing Business,” the DG said.

SNGPL: The Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited severed another 74 connections on account of gas pilferage and other illegalities.

Three connections were severed in Multan, four in Bahawalpur, one in Faisalabad, three in Gujranwala and three each in Sargodha, Gujrat and Sahiwal on illegal use of gas.

Published in Dawn, April 17th, 2024