RAHIM YAR KHAN: Tensions flare-up led to a scuffle reportedly between representatives of local sugar mills and dealers over pricing issues at the the Deputy Commissioner’s office on Wednesday.
As a result, the district administration ‘locked’ both groups inside the committee room of the DC office for six hours.According to the DC, the meeting was convened to ensure that sugar was made available in local markets at the government-notified rate of Rs173 per kilogram.
However, local sugar dealers argued that they were purchasing sugar from millers through brokers at rates ranging between Rs170 and Rs171 per kg. After transportation, loading, unloading, and other expenses, the actual cost rose to Rs173-175 per kg, making it unviable to sell sugar at the official rate to retailers.
Dealers demanded that millers sell sugar directly to them at Rs165 per kg to make government pricing feasible. They also alleged that sugar brokers issue invoices at Rs165 per kg but actually charged Rs170 per kg, making it difficult for them to comply with price regulations.
The DC office sources said the situation escalated when both sides clashed verbally. When the conflict could not be resolved, the DC ordered the main doors of the committee room locked. “They are my guests, and I will serve them tea and lunch until they agree to implement the government rates,” the DC said.
Those ‘locked’ included President Zilaee Karyana Association (ZKA) RYK Falak Sher Sandhu, General Secretary Abdul Hafeez, Inam Bari (GS ZKA Sadiqabad), President ZKA Khanpur Chaudhry Zaheer, former RYKCCI Vice President Atif Bashir, and traders Wasim Arshad, Abid and Shabbir.
Senior Vice President of RYKCCI, Shaheer Iqbal, was contacted by a trader and he arrived in an attempt to mediate, but failed to secure their release.
RYKCCI President Waleed Iqbal told this correspondent from Lahore that he would hold a press conference against the district administration and the government because there were 50 individuals of the business community and their self-respect was hurt.
He said he would also send a message to the DC that it was not a way to treat people. “Locking businessmen in a committee room like livestock is unacceptable. Their self-respect was hurt.”
President of Zilaee Anjuman Taajran (ZAT) Abdul Raouf also criticised the district administration, alleging that some traders fainted during ‘confinement’ and others experienced health issues, including blood sugar fluctuations. He said the DC was silent on the role of mills representatives on the issue of rates.
Local shopkeeper Jawar Ahmed and City Anjuman Taajran (CAT) leader Haji Islam Noorani praised the district administration’s move, accusing certain ZKA office-bearers of hoarding sugar and creating artificial shortages. “Small grocery shopkeepers want to sell at the official price, but the monopoly of big traders is the real hurdle,” Noorani said.
SUFFOCATED: Two persons died while trying to clean a manhole on Wednesday in a village of Liaqatpur tehsil.
Reports said Zafar, a resident of Chak 85 Colony, asked his sons Shahbaz and Shehzad to clean the manhole at their home. Shehzad entered first and died on the spot due to inhalation of toxic gases. Shahbaz then attempted to rescue him but lost consciousness.
A private sanitary worker, Nazir Ahmed, was called to help but he also died inside the manhole.
The deputy commissioner has sought a detailed report from the assistant commissioner of Liaqatpur and the chief officer of the District Council regarding the deaths.
Published in Dawn, July 24th, 2025