Over 70 percent of food stuff in the markets round the country is adulterated, of which 52 percent is contaminated mineral water, said a report presented in the NA Standing Committee on Human Rights on Friday. The NA committee met here in Parliament House with Riaz Fatyana in the Chair and attended by Fauzia Habib, Dr Attiya Inayatullah, Raheela Baloch, Sardar Mehtab Ahmed Khan, Dr Araish Kumar, Shakeela Khanam Rashid, Khawaja Sheraz Mehmood.
The agenda of meeting was "Consideration of the Report of Sub-Committee on Human Rights (Food adulteration) set-up by the National Assembly Standing Committee on Human Rights". The Standing Committee approved the recommendations of the Sub Committee constituted under Fauzia Habib, MNA.
It was noted by the Committee that in Pakistan water contamination is the major issue due to water quality tribulations such as bacteriological, arsenic, nitrate and fluoride contamination. In its report the sub-committee quoted the Pakistan Council of Research on Water Resources (PCRWR) findings, which has completed the water quality monitoring from January-March 2010 of 63 commercially available brands in nine major cities ie Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Bahawalpur, Multan, Peshawar, Quetta, Karachi and Hyderabad, out of which 33 brands were found unsafe.
Out of these 33, 14 have shown the excessive concentrations of Arsenic, Sodium, Potassium and Fluoride than permissible limits, while, 22 bottled water brands were found microbiologically contaminated, the committee was informed. The Committee members showed concern over excessive amount of dangerous chemicals contamination in water, which is giving rise to fatal diseases like typhoid, Cancer, Hyper-tension etc.
The committee was also informed that in the milieu of this situation, out of total, 40 percent of the diseases are water borne and about 20-40 percent hospitalisations are due to these diseases, for which drugs worth Rs 60 billion are being imported, which is a great burden on the economy.
During the meeting the committee members passed a resolution on occasion of "10th December as Universal Declaration of Human Rights by United Nations" which includes presentation of tributes to those who worked for restoration of democracy, human rights, good governance, end to corruption, promotion of education, protection of rights to women, children and minorities, freedom of judiciary and media and use of tolerance in their attitude.
The committee directed all the law enforcement agencies not to violate basic human rights. The Committee members shown grave concern over the use of arsenic in water, which is very much common in Sindh and its use increases the risk of nervous breakdown. The Committee also noted the contamination reports in the branded milk and meat. The Committee noted with concern that emulsification of certain components are available in the branded packed milk ie Caustic Soda, Urea Fertiliser, Liquid Hydrogen, Detergent, CMC (Carboxymethyl Cellulose), 1 Kg Milk, 1 Kg Cooking Oil, 10 Kg Water and 1 Kg Dry Milk.
The Committee recommended to PEMRA to direct TV Channels to give coverage to adulterated food issues before the public for awareness. The Committee appreciated print as well as electronic media for creating awareness among the masses on a wide range of issues.
The Chair appreciated holding of Human Rights award ceremony in President Secretariat but expressed concern on working, performance and distribution of award ceremony by concerned quarters.
The Committee criticised that there was no proper list of awardees, saying that four persons who were not included in the list were awarded. The blank invitation cards were issued to the invitees/Chairman Standiing Committee on Human Rights. Javed Hashmi, MNA and Dr Israr Shah, Secretary Ministry of Human Rights and members of Standing Committee who sacrificed for restoration of democracy were not awarded.
The chair said that he received the award for respect of President but later on returned the award in protest. The Committee unanimously decided to call Minister, Secretary Ministry of Human Rights in the next meeting to ascertain the facts for irregularities.
Chairman directed the ministry to present implementation status of previous decisions before the next meeting. The Chairman expressed concern on missing persons and appealed Law enforcing agencies to mend their thinking and working for public.
The Committee expressed concern for torture by Police on students, teachers in Punjab. Shakeela Khanam Rasheed expressed concern on the action of Government of Punjab against 26 colleges and desired to call Home Secretary, Secretary concerned with the matter, Secretary Higher Education and representatives of teachers, students and police in the next meeting.
The Committee passed resolution to take action against police for torture, release the students and review the policy. The Committee also expressed concern for killing of a blind person in Lahore and urged the government for the registration of FIR against the killers. The committee decided to call the brothers of the killed person who are also blind in the next meeting.
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