LAKKI MARWAT: The district administration has intensified checking of goods transport vehicles to prevent any possible smuggling of wheat from Punjab to Afghanistan via Lakki Marwat.

Keeping in view the shortage of wheat and surge in prices of wheat flour, the administration has started monitoring the wheat supply to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa from Punjab, an official said on Sunday.

He said a monitoring mechanism had been put in place on the directives of deputy commissioner Abdul Hadi to tighten noose around food smugglers and thwart any attempt to smuggle wheat meant for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to Afghanistan.

He said additional assistant commissioner Sultan Nooruddin Ahmer along with food department and police officials stopped trucks loaded with wheat bags on Lakki-Darra Tang section of Bannu-Mianwali Road connecting Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with Punjab and checked official documents permitting wheat transportation.

“Mr Ahmer made it clear that the transporters supplying wheat without possessing relevant official documents would face legal action and the commodity loaded on their vehicles would be confiscated,” he added.

He said that four checkposts had been established in North Waziristan district on instructions of Bannu division commissioner Parweiz Sabatkhel to prevent smuggling of food items and fertiliser to Afghanistan.

He said officials of the administration, food, police and agriculture departments had been deployed at the checkposts to control smuggling of wheat, flour, sugar and fertiliser to the neighbouring county.

RPO ASSUMES CHARGE: The newly-posted Regional Police Officer, Bannu, Qasim Ali Khan assumed charge of his office on Sunday.

A police contingent presented a guard of honour to the new regional boss when he reached the Iqbal Shaheed Police Lines in Bannu city.

Bannu DPO Ziauddin Ahmed, SP investigations Mujibur Rahman and other police officers were also present.

Mr Ali laid a floral wreath on the monuments of martyrs and offered Fateha for their high ranks. He also planted a sapling on the premises of the police lines.

On the occasion, he said he believed in a team work spirit and would implement the merit policy in appointments in letter and spirit.

Published in Dawn, May 15th, 2023