KARACHI, Feb 24: The city government's efforts to curb the rising milk prices has entered into its second day with the arrests of 37 more persons and warning to some 230 milk sellers , bringing the total number of arrested to 45 and those warned to 330 in two days.

Out of those arrested on Thursday, 17 were from Bin Qasim area, seven Landhi, six Gulshan, five Lyari and two from Baldia. Similarly, some 25 milk sellers each were warned in Site, Gulshan, Malir and Landhi towns for overcharging, while 22 milk sellers were given warnings in North Nazimabad Town, 20 each in Jamshed and Baldia towns, 18 in Keamari, and 16 in Lyari towns.

No arrests or warnings were made in areas of Orangi, Gulberg, Liaquatabad, Korangi, Shah Faisal and New Karachi, neither was any action taken there since the respective DDOs (Revenue) could not be traced.

The executive district officer, Enterprise and Investment Promotion, Raeesuddin Paracha, claimed that the city government's effort was now bearing fruit as milk had started being sold at old rates in many areas.

He said that DCO Fazlur Rehman and other government officials had raided many shops on Thursday and handed over some milk sellers to the police for overcharging. "Our efforts will continue till the rates of milk are stabilised and brought to the officially fixed rate of Rs22 per litre," Raees said. However, milk and yogurt still continues to be sold at higher prices in many areas. While some milk sellers, currently quoting the rate of Rs25 per litre due to fear of being arrested, are cautioning consumers to be ready for paying Rs28 per litre from March 1.

Many consumers think the government lacks enough officers to handle such a huge metropolitan city where a mushroom growth of milk sellers has been witnessed in the past few years.

They question as to why end users were paying Rs25 per litre for the last many months when the price was fixed at Rs22 per litre gives the impression that some underhand deal had been struck between some city government officials and dairy farmers, allowing retailers to charge Rs25 a litre without any fear.

Sources said town nazims and city government officials, who had also been asked by the city nazim, Niamatullah Khan, to curb overcharging in their areas, had yet to follow his instructions. They said it was strange as to why town nazims were reluctant to check and monitor the prices of milk. They added that even DDOs were doing their job half heartedly.

Besides, three DDOs, who were supposed to join the price control exercise, were not available, as two of them had been arrested for the purpose of enquiry in case of sacked revenue minister Imtiaz Shaikh, while one DDO was missing. Consumers fear the arrested milk sellers would start charging higher prices again after they come out on bail.