BAJAUR: The authorities in Bajaur tribal district have reduced prices of several essential items with rates of some commodities going down from Rs40 to Rs150 per kilogramme.

The decision to this effect was made at a meeting of the district price review committee chaired by deputy commissioner Mohammad Anwarul Haq, according to a statement issued here the other day.

The meeting noted that prices of several edible items had witnessed some visible decrease in the country, but the traders here had yet to make a reduction in their rates, which was an injustice with the consumers.

Mr Haq said decrease in prices of several commodities was imperative to provide relief to people. He directed the committee members to issue fresh price list immediately.

The statement said prices of 24 commodities such as pulses, rice, sugar, meat, milk, tea, fish and confectionary items were fixed afresh, making decreases from Rs40 to Rs150 per kg. The new price list was effective form Saturday across the district.

Meanwhile, in a separate statement, the district administration said it had launched a crackdown on the transporters for not observing the new fares.

It said several teams comprising officials of the district administration and police launched the crackdown on public complaints.

MAN DIES ON ROAD: A man died and four others sustained injuries when a car fell into a gorge in Barang tehsil on Sunday.

A Rescue 1122 statement said the accident occurred in hilly Kohi Sar area.

Quoting local residents, it said a car heading towards Khar town from Memola area plunged into a ditch after veering off a hilly track.

The statement identified the deceased as Abdul Kamal, 40, the driver, and the injured as Shaukat Khan, 45, Juma Deen, 43, Kabal Khan, 39 and Abdul Aziz, 42.

The injured were later shifted to the District Headquarters Hospital, Khar. The deceased belonged to Mamenzoo area of Khar.

Separately, a man was killed when his rivals opened fire at him over a land dispute in Khar on Sunday.

Rescue 1122 officials and residents said Haji Said Badshah, 57, was working on a disputed piece of land in Sheikh Baba area, when his rivals came there and opened fire, leaving him seriously injured.

Rescue 1122 officials said the injured was shifted to the District Headquarters Hospital, where he died.

The police registered a case against the assailants and launched efforts for their arrest.

Published in Dawn, October 23rd, 2023