ISLAMABAD - Buzzing flies over despicable food stalls at weekly bazaars, and the utensils used to serve customers being cleansed with dirty water, speak volumes of the performance of the authorities concerned.
Doctors say most of the people, who eat or drink from these unhygienic stalls, later complain of sore throat and gastroenteritis. They say people with weak immune system easily fall prey to adulterated food.
They advised the people to refrain eating food being sold by such vendors, particularly these days. It has been e set up along sewage drains or near heaps of filth. Despite filthy and dirty condition of the food, the customers always throng the stalls. But the authorities concerned seem least bothered to remove these vendors. Though unhygienic eateries are spread throughout the city, but the weekly bazaars authorities can easily cancel those stalls whose owners do not adhere to the set standards.
Meanwhile, there is virtually no difference between prices in weekly bazaars and those in open markets. It seems that the bazaars authorities do not take into account the fruit and vegetable market rates while fixing the prices of different items. The weekly bazaars have failed to provide quality food items, especially vegetables and fruits to the residents at reasonable prices. There is only a minor difference of Rs 3 to 5, but quality of the items is compromised.
A customer Ali Mohsin while talking to the agency said that the provision of essential commodities to the masses at controlled rates was the main purpose of these bazaars. However, the situation is totally different. He urged the authorities concerned to issue rate lists, keeping in view the quality and market prices of the items and also make sure the implementation. He said that in the capital’s bazaars, the stalls had been set up near drains, which was dangerous for public health. The sanitation conditions are the worst in these bazaars, he added. A Capital Development Authority (CDA) official said that they keep vigil on the shopkeepers and take strict action against those who are found not selling fruits and vegetables according to rate lists.
Meanwhile, commuters have demanded of the city government to take strict action against the vendors involved in selling unhygienic food at high prices without displaying price lists at Pir Widhai Bus Stand.
Due to negligence of the concerned authorities, practice of selling substandard foods to passengers has posed health hazards.
Vendors are charging Rs 20 for a teacup and Rs 70 to 90 for a single plate of vegetable. Meanwhile, Cooked food is being served in unclean utensils, causing health problems.
The vendors are also using contaminated spices to cook food.
The commuters have appealed to the concerned authority to take stern action against the stall holders found involved in selling unhygienic and costly food with ordering for cancellation of their stalls.