GUJRANWALA, March 4: Some 51 shopkeepers were arrested and many others fined for selling flour at high rates here on Thursday. Some 40 shopkeepers were arrested in the city and 11 in Naushera Virkan tehsil.

The Wazirabad deputy district officer (revenue) raided 318 shops in and around the city and collected a fine of Rs152,000. Meanwhile, the raiding party collected a flour sample from a mills and sent it to Lahore for analysis.

Trader freed: A trader, who was kidnapped three days ago by some car riders for Rs1 million ransom, was released on Thursday after the pledged payment. Reports said Haji Muhammad Asif was kidnapped by five people, a woman among them, when he was on his way home from market. They took him to Peshawar and demanded Rs1 million ransom for his release.

Two of the relatives of the trader took the money to Peshawar and handed it over to the kidnappers, who later threw the victim near the railway station. The trader was reported to be unconscious and he had scars on his forehead.

Industrial exhibition: Arrangements have been finalized to open the industrial exhibition by the local chamber of commerce and industry at the Gulshan Iqbal Park on the GT Road on Friday.

This was stated by GCCI President Shaukat Javed while he was talking to this correspondent here on Thursday. He said 'Made in Gujranwala' products were popular in various countries and their exhibition would help enhance export and foreign exchange. Around 100 industrial product and 14 food stalls had been set up at the fourth exhibition, he added.

Ambassadors, trade delegations of various countries, federal and provincial ministers, and the government functionaries would visit this exhibition, which would continue till March 26. He said Provincial Food Minister Chaudhry Muhammad Iqbal would inaugurate the exhibition at 11am.

SUICIDE: A jobless youth committed suicide by taking poisonous pills in Baghbanpura here on Thursday. Anwar took poison after quarrelling with his parents over pocket money. He died on the spot.