BATTAGRAM: The affected people of the Karakoram Highway expansion project being executed under the China-Pakist an E conomic Corridor (CPEC) here on Monday asked the government to pay them market value of their properties, or they would forcibly halt work on the project.

Speaking at a press conference here on Monday, they said the district administration had issued notices to landowners to vacate their properties without taking them into confidence. They said Kas Pul and Chanjal areas were treated as commercial, thus the government should pay them according to the market value of land and houses.

They pointed out that a huge population would be affected due to the expansion of KK H in Batt agram district.

On the occasion, former DIG Riaz Khan said the survey conducted by the authorities for the project was not authentic, and demanded carry-ing it out afresh so people could get proper compensation.

Anwar Baig, an elder, said the owners of houses which were going to be demolished should be provided alternative places of living.

He said that lands and houses along the Karakoram Highway had commercial value but the government was not ready to pay them accordingly.

Tehsil council member Gul Mohammad said Battagram district had a very little plain area, and the people, particularly farmers, would suffer huge losses if they were not properly compensated.

Altaf Khan said the mega project was game changer for the country, but the people of Battagram were not being allowed to reap its benefits.

The elders gave the government until June 10 to fulfill their demands, or they would halt the work on the project.

PROFITEERS, HOARDERSFINED: The local food department launchedacrackdownonshopkeepers for profiteering and hoarding in the fasting month. The action was launched on the direction of the deputy commissioner.

District food controller Syed Wazir Shah and food inspector Arsalan Shaukat Khan paid visits to the different markets, where they checked the price list and quality of edible items. They fined eight shopkeepers and vendors for overcharging and hoarding commodities.

Wazir Shah said shopkeepers selling substandard items were also fined. He said samples of some food items, including sugar and tea, were sent to the food testing laboratory in Peshawar for quality examination.

He said the shopkeepers had been asl(ed to display prominently price list at their outlets with warning that strict action would be taken against the violators. Correspondent