SIALKOT, Feb 6: National Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Amir Husain said on Thursday the federal government would enact laws to avert any Sambrial-like tragedy in future.

Mr Husain, who is also serving as an acting president, said this while talking to newsmen at the Sialkot Dry port in Sambrial.

Punjab Governor Khalid Maqbool, Punjab Industries Minister Chaudhry Muhammad Ajmal Cheema, MPAs Chaudhry Ansar Iqbal and Chaudhry Azeem Noori Ghuman and Gujranwala DIG Malik Muhammad Iqbal were among the attendants.

The NA speaker and the governor expressed grief over loss of lives in the blast. They said it was an exquisite tragedy and vowed to bring the culprits to book.

Mr Husain said the Punjab government had informed the federal government that people were busy importing the banned items here. He added the government would enact laws to check illegal import.

Meanwhile, the speaker announced high-level inquiries by the federal and provincial authorities into the incident. He said the facts would be brought before the masses and the culprits would be hanged.

The acting president and the governor later condoled with the bereaved families and inquired after the health of the injured, who are stated to be out of danger.

Mr Husain also announced Rs100,000 compensation for the heirs of the deceased and Rs50,000 each for the injured. The Dryport management and Board of Trustees also announced Rs100,000 for the family of deceased Customs Inspector Najmuddin Sheikh, Rs50,000 each for heirs of the other deceased and Rs25,000 each for the injured.

Sialkot Dryport General Manager Saleem Sheikh told the acting president and the governor that the dryport activities were going on without hindrance.

Customs Additional Collector (Dryport) Khawar Farid Maanika, who is son of MNA Ghulam Muhammad Maanika, informed the NA speaker that the Sambrial police had registered a case against the Customs officials and were harassing them.

Responding to this, Mr Husain asked the police not to harass people.