GHALANAI: The people of Mohmand Agency have shown concern over the increasing prices of edible items, including fruits and vegetables.

According to them, the rates of vegetables and fruits have gone up by 50 to 60 per cent in different bazaars of the tribal agency, but the authorities have failed to take action against the prohteers andhoarders.

`There is no mechanism to keep a check on the prices, giving shopkeepers a free hand to fleece the consumers,` a consumer regretted.

Though the political administration has formed several price control committees for different tehsils of the agency, but they become active only in Ramazan.

Sher Mohammad, a vegetable vendor in Ghalanal Bazaar, said that tomato was being sold at Rs120 per kg compared to Rs60 per kg a week ago.

He added price of potato had increased to Rs45 per kg from Rs30 per kg, of pumpkin to Rs50 per kg from Rs20, olcra to Rs120 per kg from Rs80 and onion to Rs60 per kg from Rs30 per 1(g.

Mir Afzal, a resident of Main Mandi, said it had become a routine that prices of eatables were increased before the start of Ramazan, but the political administration failed to curb the trend.

Mukamil Shah, a fruit vendor in Ekkaghund Bazaar, said orange was being sold at Rs150 per kg compared to Rs80 per kg a week ago, adding rates of Iranian and Quetta apple, banana and water melon had also been increased.

An official told Dawn that the political administration would take action against the profiteers and hoarders. He said price committees would be set up in each tehsil for keeping check on prices during Ramzan.

DRUG PUSHERS ARRESTED: The political administration arrested 12 drug pushers during an action in Mian Mandi Bazaar and border areas of Biazai subdivision here the other day.

Asmatullah Wazir, an official of the local administration, told reporters that the action was taken following complaints from people about increasing use of drugs, particularly ice, among the youth.

He said the drug sellers were arrested from their shops and were shifted to the lockup.

Meanwhile, Political Agent Mahmood Aslam Wazir showed concern over the selling of ice (a kind of drug) in bazaars of the Haleemzai tehsil.

He called upon the tribal elders to help the authorities curb the menace in the region as educated youth were getting addicted to the drugs.