Poultry protein processing units are selling harmful 'industrial oil' to be used as edible oil by different vendors, which is spreading dangerous diseases in the provincial capital. Pathfinders Chairman Major Arif made these allegations in a press conference held here on Thursday.
Pathfinders is an NGO working to eliminate the hazardous effects of these protein processing units. He disclosed that five poultry processing units are operating in the city and are producing 7 tonnes of oil on daily basis. "The oil produced during the protein extracting process is very harmful for human consumption and needs to be coloured blue or red so that it could not be used as edible oil," he added.
He also alleged that poultry protein processing units are selling this harmful oil to small vendors, where it is used for frying fish, samosas and other items, and in the process exposing humans to serious illnesses. "These units were set up in Mohlanwal area, which is a residential area, and some two years ago the Pathfinders started a campaign for removal of these units from this residential locality," he added.
According to him, a petition was filed in the Lahore High Court against the units. The owners of 4 units agreed to shift, except Adrees & Co. They took up their case in the Supreme Court and got time to shift from the place till December 3.
He said the DCO was involved in illegal means on behalf of owners of processing units and was supporting them by giving them more time to shift. He also alleged the Environmental Protection Department and Health Department were also not fulfilling their responsibilities by not taking any action against these dangerous polluters.
He demanded that the Punjab government to take a serious note of the situation and stop selling of oil produced by these units as edible and direct these units to colour their oil blue or red so that consumer could distinguish between industrial and cooking oil.