ABBOTTABAD, Jan 5: The Mansehra police arrested at least 49 profiteers on the complaints of foreign aid workers. Hundreds of foreigners working for different relief organizations of Germany, Cuba, Holland, Italy, Bosnia, USA, UK, UAE and other countries are busy in relief operation in different parts of the district.

The aid workers complained that when they bought food and other daily use items, shopkeepers not only overcharged them but also gave them substandard goods.

Facing the same situation, when local consumers raised voice against this illegal practice of the shopkeepers, the government agencies came to their rescue and the police took the action.

After the Oct 8 quake, the badly hit Mansehra district became the centre of relief activities. Besides Pakistani NGO’s and other organization, foreign NGO’s and many foreign countries have established their camp offices in Mansehra.

It is reported that soon after the arrival of foreign NGOs and organizations, house rent was revised up by at least 1,000 times: one house which is normally rented out for Rs5,000 was rented out for Rs50,000.

Transporters also have raised fairs with the same ratio while hotels and restaurants have raised food and rental charges to over 500 per cent.