Lahore: As many as 14 people were arrested on the spot for selling expensive Roti and naan in Lahore and points were sealed on Tuesday.

Food Minister Punjab Bilal Yasin is active in the field to ensure availability of Roti and Naan on the new notified price. The Food Minister visited Shadman and Muslim Town areas to review the prices of Roti and Naan.

“14 persons involved in overcharging were arrested on the spot and the relevant points were sealed,’ said the spokesperson.

Food Minister Bilal Yasin while talking to media representatives after the visit said that habitual criminals must be sent behind the bars. He also reprimanded the Additional Deputy Commissioner General for poor monitoring of the market and directed the administration to come out of their offices and play an effective role in the field for public relief.

Bilal Yasin said that the new prices were notified after considering all the statistics and nobody would be allowed to create artificial inflation.

Punjab Food Minister said that in Lahore they were ensuring bread at Rs16 and Naan at Rs20.

Bilal Yasin directed that the district administration should display the price list in all the markets. He said that the price of flour decreased historically and its impact would be brought to the grass-root level. He said that for the first time in history, the price of a 20 kg bag of flour was reduced by Rs 500.

The Minister of Food said that along with the correct price, the weight of Naat and Roti must also be according to the standard. Deputy Commissioner Lahore, ADCG and Price Control Magistrate also accompanied the Minister during market raids. 

Islamabad:   Saudi Arabia Foreign Minister Prince Faisal Bin Farhan urged the international community to play its due role to ensure ceasefire in Gaza.

Foreign Minister Prince Faisal regretted over the loss of precious lives during the ongoing war in Gaza.

“Over 35,000 deaths is the failure of the international community,” said FM Prince Faisal Bin Farhan while addressing a joint press conference with his Pakistani counterpart Ishaq Dar in Islamabad on Tuesday (today).

The Saudi delegation led by Foreign Minister Prince Faisal Bin Farhan arrived in Islamabad on Monday evening.

The Saudi FM said that said that they were impressed by the format for investment in Pakistan as it gave huge confidence to them to move forward for the projects.

“We have seen an inter-governmental approach in this format. This new format is really impressive. And it has given us a lot of confidence,” said FM Prince Faisal Bin Farhan while responding to a question about the key areas where the Saudi government was going to make investment.

The Saudi FM further said that the international community must act to ensure ceasefire in  Gaza. The region, he said, could not bear the conflict.

“People are starving to death. There must be immediate ceasefire. There is no justification for restrictions against humanitarian aid,” said the Saudi FM.

He regretted over killing of the six foreign aid workers but it got the international community awoke.  He also mentioned the double standard at the international level in this regard.

“We are already a trouble region, and we cannot afford any conflict further,” he added.

Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar endorsed the view point of his Saudi counterpart and said that Pakistan is equally concerned about Gaza conflict.

He said they asked the international community for the ceasefire in Gaza and ensure provision of humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza who were starving to death.

“We are deeply concerned about Gaza situation, said FM Dar.

Talking about the investment opportunities and potential, Ishaq Dar said that a detailed briefing was held about the potential of the investment.

“We have given a good menu covering the different sectors including IT where the investment could be made,” said Ishaq Dar while addressing a question about the role of SIFC.  He said they were trying to convert and upgrade this relationship.

“We have a huge agenda to work with. Pakistan has a huge potential and we are trying to streamline it,” said Foreign Minister Dar.

Prince Faisal also lauded the great role of the Pakistani citizens for their contribution to the Saudi economy.

“We can add value to it in this regard,” said FM Prince Faisal, emphasizing upon bilateral cooperation to address the challenges.

The both sides agreed to strengthen their bilateral ties and cooperation.

Islamabad:  Hundreds of employees and workers of Walton Tobacco Company appealed to the Chief Justice of Azad Kashmir to take notice of what they said the illegal closure of the factory.

The workers demanded immediate  de-sealing of the premises as families of more than 400 workers are facing difficult conditions due to workers being unemployed following the closure.

The workers appealed to the Chief Justice of Azad Kashmir for justice saying they were the victims of exploitation and were suffering due to the administration’s illegal act.

Spokesman Walton Tobacco Company Arif Zia said that they are receiving threats of serious consequences from the administration of Azad Kashmir.

He further said that Walton is the highest tax-paying company in Azad Kashmir, which pays 240 million rupees to the national exchequer every month.

Arif Zia informed the media at a press conference earlier this week that his company was raided illegally, was subsequently sealed while all the products were seized.

Leaders of factory workers Muhammad Ali and Umar Ahmed said AJK government’s indifferent attitude was disappointing as they did not follow the due process. The government’s action was biased and based on unfounded assumptions. 

They said that the factory owners were treated like thieves, which is discouraging for the highest taxpayers and would result in discouraging investor entering AJK market. 

Arif Zia said that unemployment rate is increasing in Azad Kashmir due to these factors on part of Azad Kashmir government.

Earlier, workers and employees of Walton Tobacco Company held a protest demonstration at Rawalpindi Road outside the factory in Mirpur Chatrapadi, and demanded the administration to immediately de-seal the factory.

They warned the administration to expanding the scope of their protest movement in order to win their jobs and normal life back to their families who were suffering. The workers said their families could not celebrate Eid because the factory was sealed during the holy month of Ramadan.

Walton Tobacco Company spokesperson Arif Zia said that the Azad Kashmir government should first crackdown against sale of illegal cigarettes in the market.