LAHORE: Over 70 price control magistrates of the city district have so far got arrested 4,300 shopkeepers and sent them to jail or police lockups since January 1 for creating artificial price hike through overcharging and hoarding.

It was revealed in a meeting held here at Town Hall to review the ongoing drive against overcharging, hoarding and sale of substandard commodities in open markets of the city.

Presided over by the Lahore DCO, the participants were informed by focal person of the campaign that the magistrates also imposed a fine of Rs13.37 million on several other shopkeepers for violating the price lists.

Speaking on the occasion, DCO Muhammad Usman said a special mechanism had been devised to control price hike. `We have inducted representatives of special branch police in the committee monitoring thedrive. These representatives also visit shops on their own and verify visits of magistrates, fine imposed, arrests and public complaints. Later, they report their visits to DCO office along with certain recommendations,` he explained.

Meanwhile presiding over another meeting, he said the CDGL would hold another round of a three-day polio drive from tomorrow (April 13). He advised the health officials to ensure coverage of all children aged up to five years.

R E CRUI T M ENT: Lahore Development Authority on Saturday announced names of 26 newly recruited assistant directors (general cadre) in grade-17.

According to an LDA spokesman, 20 candidates selected on open merit are Manan Abdul Ahad, Muhammad Arslan Iqbal, Nauman Ali , Hamid Ali, Farhan Khan, Bilal Tariq, Bilal Saeed, Assad Naseer, Hafiz Muneeb Ahmad Shafique, Humayun Iftikhar Gondal, Hasnain Sharif, Rai Junaid Husain,Ahmad Ali Asghar, Rai Mahmood Husain, Qamar Zahoor, Shaban Umer, UmarZaman,Muhammad AbdullahGhouri,Murtaza Akmal and Muhammad Khubalb Ghazi.

Those selected on seats reserved for female candidates include Rubina Manzoor, Nissa Zafar, Ayesha Ijaz and Sarah Umar, whereas Ahsaan Bhatti has been selected on a seat reserved for minority candidate.

Qasim Ali has been selected on a seat reserved for disabled candidate, the spokesman said.

He said detailed results had been made available on LDA`s website www.

lda.gop.pk.

DENGUE: Lahore Commissioner Abdullah Sumbal has urged the DCOs of Sheilchupura and Kasur to ensure effective in/outdoor dengue surveillance in their districts.

In a meeting held here on Saturday, he said the statistics revealed that effective surveillance reduced admission of dengue patients to hospitals.