MANSEHRA, Oct 28: The Consumer Protection Council (CPC) will launch a drive at schools and other public places to create awareness among people about controlling price hike and sale of substandard goods.

`Besides checking price hike and sale of substandard eatables and other goods, we are also going to launch an awareness drive. The local ulema and school students would also be got involved in it,` Dr Qasim Ali Khan, the assistant commissioner, told a meeting of CPC here on Monday.

The meeting was held with CPC chairman Shahjahan Khan Swati in the chair while heads of the line departments including health, foods and education attended it.

The meeting decided to educate ulema and about the consumer courts where there was no need of lawyers to pursue a case against any profiteers or a person involved in sale of substandard goods.

Dr Qasim said that administration was also going to install a land line number to receive public complaints regarding price hike and sale of substandard goods.

`The people are unaware that no fee or lawyer is needed to file a case in the consumer court and one can move the court through a simple application. We will create awareness among ulema and students to prorogate itamong masses,` said Dr Qasim.

Speaking on occasion, Mr Swati said that 17 medical laboratories, which were functioning without any licence and professional staff, were first sealed and later legalised.

He said that besides district and tehsil administration, the council also took action against bread sellers who for selling bread having less weight than the fixed 170 grams.

The meeting also decided to organise an awareness rally about rights of the consumers.

ARRESTS: Police claimed to have arrested 19 outlaws wanted in murder, attempted murder and other heinous crimes, said DPO Khuram Rashid here on Monday.

Talking to journalists, he said that anti-crime and narcotics drive was launched last week and it was well in progress. So far 19 outlaws were arrested in raids in district, he added.

`The drive, which is launched to protect the life and property of citizens and keep away the youths from the narcotics peddlers, is also a clear message for the outlaws to surrender to police otherwise get ready for action,` said Mr Rashid.

He said that during the drive 112 kilograms of charas, five kilograms of explosives, a Kalashnikov, three riffles, two shotguns, 28 pistols and 851 rounds of different bores were also seized.