The quality of food being sold in city goes unchecked due to what sources said food inspectors used to take bribe against issuing non objection certificate to food sellers. Selling of substandard food has put lives of citizens on risk besides it also causing diseases like stomach cancer, hepatitis B&C and other dangerous diseases due as the use of substandard edible oil, ghee, drinking water and other hazardous elements.
Sources said that mere amount of fine on selling substandard food is also reason which encouraged the food sellers to run their business in connivance with corrupt food inspectors of Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC). "According to the ordinance of 1960 KMC can only charge fine of Rs 60 on selling inferiors quality food", Senior Director Medical & Health Services KMC Dr Nasir Jawaid told Business Recorder.
He informed that KMC officials could only check uncooked or raw food material besides no law existed in country to inspect cooked meal/food. "There are no such rules and regulation under which KMC official can punish vendors selling junk food items in city", he said, adding that "It is direly needed to form by-laws in order for giving mandate to KMC so that it could check the quality of cooked food too"
KMC Medical and Health Department has only 13 food inspectors, who assign on the duty to check the quality of raw foods supplies in city. "It's our responsibility to send samples to the laboratory for examination, for which we have deployed 13 food inspectors" Nasir added. The existing number of food inspectors in KMC is definitely a sign of mockery and matter of concerned to the administration as well.
Sources said that KMC concerned department has sent several letters to Sindh government after devolution under 18th amendment to formulate rules in order to streamline the missing linkages with regard to ensure the quality of raw material and cooked items being sold in city. It is pertinent to mention here that Punjab government has drafted laws after devolution to ensure the provision of best food quality to citizens.
Dr Nasir Jawaid said that Sindh government also advised to formulate law draft on the pattern of Punjab, which is not possible as variation in food items. Sindh also deal seafood items otherwise to Punjab so laws should also be different, Nasir informed.
Nasir while referring Ordinance of 1960 said there should be one food inspector for 10,000 population while situation has now changes and a food inspector dealing a population of 8.3 million. Official said that Sindh government has to generate more posts of food inspectors to cope up situation. It has also leant that police extort money from takeaway stalls and vendors of commodities on wheelbarrows allowing them to occupy some area on roads to sell substandard food.
Comments
Comments are closed.