VEHARI, Sept 18: The fireworks business is on the rise in the district ahead of Shab-i-Barat but the administration and police have failed to take any effective measures to check the menace. According to a survey, this illegal business has picked up in all most all parts of the district, including Vehari city, Luddan, Gagoo, Burewala, Machiwal, Mailsi, Karampur, Tibba Sultanpur, Garah More, Jallah Jeam, Dokota and Mitroo, where dozens of small fireworks factories are working round the clock without any check.

The workers, including women and children, employed at these factories are working without any safety measures, especially in the rural areas of the district. Many of the factories are set up in houses in residential areas where all most all family members remain busy making crackers and other types of fireworks.

Last year, about half a dozen people had been injured in Tibba Sultanpur area when fireworks material caught fire at such a factory.

A fireworks factory owner, on the condition of anonymity, told Dawn that he had to bribe police officials and checking teams from other departments to run his business ‘smoothly’. “There is no fear of any crackdown if police is bribed”, he added.

Sources said only a few factories had the licenses, but most of these did not fulfil legal requirements for running the business. The owners mostly did not adopt any safety measures while manufacturing fireworks, while most of the factories also indulged in storing huge quantity of explosives, much more than the permitted limit, especially ahead of any special occasion, they added.

Social circles have demanded that the authorities concerned should take action against fireworks vendors and manufacturers to avoid any fatal accident.

DPO Mohammad Mukthar Tikka, when informed of the situation, said a departmental inquiry would be initiated against the police officials found involved in patronizing the business.