BAHAWALPUR: Bahawalpur Commissioner has directed the authorities concerned to launch a crackdown on sale of spurious or substandard pesticides and fertilizers in Bahawalpur division. Presiding over a meeting of the Divisional Task Force Committee on Wednesday, the commissioner was told that the Agriculture Department had found 33 samples of pesticides substandard out of 731 samples collected. It was shared that 30 FIRs were registered last year against those involved in sale of substandard pesticides while a fine of Rs 700,000 was also imposed on them. The meeting was further told that 82 samples of pesticides were collected this year, besides registration of two FIRs. Pesticides worth Rs 82,000 were also confiscated by the department concerned.