SIALKOT, March 18: There is no government godown in the district for wheat storage. This was stated by District Nazim Mian Naeem Javaid here on Wednesday. Presiding over a meeting of the Sialkot district price control committee in his office, he said the food department authorities had been storing wheat in private godowns and in the warehouses of factories.

He directed the food authorities to utilize all the available private godowns for the storage of upcoming wheat crop. The Punjab government would also be requested to establish maximum official godowns in the district.

"There is no shortage of wheat in Sialkot, as the district food department has 0.5 million bags in stock," he said. The Nazim expressed displeasure over the sanitary conditions and encroachments in Sialkot Sabzi Mandi. He said the district government has approved a plan to shift the Sabzi Mandi out of the city.

DCO Syed Tahir Raza Naqvi informed the meeting that the district price and supplies board had been established. A special complaint cell had also been set up at the District Nazim office to redress public complaints regarding the price hike.

Mian Naeem Javaid also expressed concern over the unhygienic conditions in the slaughter houses of the district. He said that the butchers were spreading hepatitis and other bacterial diseases.

He informed the meeting that the district government had no suitable places to set up permanent Sasta Itwaar Bazars. He directed the TMOs of Sialkot, Daska and Pasrur to identify suitable places with the help of local market committees for the purpose.

PROBE BEGINS: An inquiry committee started on Wednesday probe into the burning of all the revenue department record of Daska tehsil. Official sources said fire in a room of the revenue department on Tuesday night had reduced to ashes Daska tehsil's all official record.

Four years ago, fire in the same office had also destroyed all official record of Sialkot and Narowal tehsils. The inquiry committee is headed by Sialkot DCO Syed Tahir Raza Naqvi. Meanwhile, District Nazim Mian Naeem Javaid told newsmen that all officials, found responsible for the incident, would be dealt with an iron hand.

The DAWN