DERA GHAZI KHAN: Deputy Commissioner and Border Military Police (BMP) Senior Commandant Anwar Baryar has ordered an investigation into the incidents of human-induced landslides in Fort Munro on the inter-provincial Dera-Quetta road for selling edibles and other goods at exorbitant rates to the travelers stuck in the traffic jam on the blocked road.

The political assistant of Koh Sulaiman tehsil, Muhammad Ikram Malik, has been directed to take strict action against the hotel mafia involved in the causing landslides.

In a letter to Mr Malik, Mr Baryar said the transport owners had alleged that the hotel mafia on the Fort Munro Road was behind the continuous landslide on the National Highway after the rains.

“The road often remains blocked. Human-made landslides are caused by dropping stones from the mountains. When the traffic gets jammed, expensive items are sold by the hotel mafia,” Hidataytullah, a truck driver, said. He complained that fruits and vegetables get rotten due to the traffic issue.

CS launches inquiry into activity aimed at selling eatables

The closure of Dera-Quetta road caused shortage of vegetables and fruits and price hike in south Punjab.

CHIEF SECRETARY: Chief Secretary Kamran Ali Afzal reviewed the arrangements in the flood relief camps in Rojhan and Rajanpur.

Accompanied by Additional Chief Secretary Shahryar Sultan, the chief secretary met the flood victims.

He directed the Rescue 1122 to improve the response in the inaccessible areas. He said availability of medicines must be ensured for the people in the flood relief camps along with vaccination and fodder for the cattle.

Mr Afzal said the administration should provide support and guidance to the welfare institutions and philanthropists for transparent distribution of relief goods.

He issued instructions for speeding up relief operation by helicopter in the affected areas of the Koh-i-Sulaiman.

Commissioner Dera Ghazi Khan Liaquat Ali Chatta gave a briefing to the chief secretary. He said 16,685 tents, 48,122 ration bags, 1,430 mats, 6,866 bottles of water and 2,000 mosquito nets had been distributed among the flood victims of Rajanpur district.

Published in Dawn, September 5th, 2022