MANSEHRA: The Utility Stores Corporation has closed down all 113 points established for the sale of subsidised wheat flour in upper parts of Hazara division.

Though there is no official word on the development, former district councillor Nawaz Khan insisted that the closure of USC sale points came after the authorities decided to sell subsidised flour in Mansehra, Torghar, Battagram, Kolai-Palas and Upper and Lower Kohistan districts by trucks.

He told reporters here on Friday that those flour sale points were put up on the orders of the prime minister to provide relief to the people from inflation but they hadbeen closed down by the USC to the misery of the common man in Hazara Division.

`The prime minister has increased the essential goods relief package to Rs8 billion from Rs4 billion but even then flour sale points have been closed down raising questions,` he said.

Accompanied by a group of people from Dodial area, Mr Nawaz said since the Punjab government had banned wheat transportation to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the prices of flour had hit an all-time high in Hazara division.

He alleged that the local millers, who had signed a contract with the USC, fleeced people in the garb of flour supply at subsidised rate through trucks.

The former councillor demanded of the prime minister to order an inquiry to expose and punish culpable people.

CNG STATIONS: The district administration on Friday reopened all CNG stations a day after their sealing for overcharging customers.

The development came as the owners of CNG stations agreed to withdraw a hike of Rs56 per kg and chargevisitors the of ficial CNG price.

The administration had sealed all 50 CNG stations across Mansehra city and its suburbs on Thursday after they increased the gas price from Rs180 per kg to Rs236 on their own.

`We cannot allow CNG stations to enhance prices on their own. Itis the privilege of the government to increase prices,` deputy commissioner Adnan Khan Battani told reporters.

Meanwhile, the Balakot police on Friday stopped people from going to the banks of the Kunhar River and warned that violators of the restriction would be arrested or subjected to other legal action.

`Tourists and local youth are flouting the ban on swimming and bathing in the Kunhar River. I warn them all that they will be taken into custody,` Balakot deputy superintendent of police Siraj Khan told reporters.

The DSP led a police party to the Kunhar River and stopped people from bathing in or getting close to the river.