Authorities indifferent to people’s health: SC

A full bench of the Supreme Court of Pakistan has observed that people are being served with dead animals’ fat at some restaurants in the name of delicious food but authorities concerned are taking no action against the criminal act.

The officers of the Food department are taking bribe to allow the hotels and restaurants play havoc with innocent lives, the court further observed.

The bench headed by Justice Khalil-ur-Rehman Ramday gave these observations while hearing a suo motu case against serving sub- standard food at local restaurants and hotels. The notice was taken on a report aired by a local news channel against the hotels and restaurants serving unhealthy food to the masses.

Taking a strong note of the carelessness on the part of the Food Department, the bench summoned the Secretaries Food, Health and Prosecution for Friday (today). The bench also directed the Deputy Food Controller, Lahore, to appear before the court and apprise the court about the measures taken under Pakistan Hotel & Restaurants Act 1976.

Justice Ramday also directed district officer food Dr. Masood Ashraf, chief food inspector Muhammad Ayub, food inspector Kamran Butt and Saleem to come up on Friday with a detailed report after conducting raids on different hotels and restaurants of the city. The judge also asked the administration of a renowned restaurant of the city to up their standard, otherwise, the court would order its closure.

Justice Ramday observed that the performance of the district food officer under pure food ordinance was not satisfactory as all the work was shown only on paper. The bench also took serious note of non-perusal of cases against hotels and restaurants pending before the courts concerned. At this, food officials informed the court that the department had counsel to plead their cases.