ISLAMABAD - What to talk about the unhygienic food available in the city as Islamabad Club, a paradise for elite class, also found involved in catering substandard food to its visitors and was fined Rs 1,000 by special magistrate few days ago. Health officials led by a food inspector took samples of food items available in Islamabad Club some one-month ago and were sent to laboratory for further analysis. Upon laboratory analysis, the samples were found substandard and unhygienic. Senior Special Magistrate imposed a fine of Rs 1,000 on Islamabad Club on October 29. While talking to TheNation, Senior Director Health Directorate Dr Saeed Ahmed said that the authority had confronted immense pressure in this case however, we did it on merit. Negating the impression Khurrum Shahzad, a representative of Islamabad Club administration, said that the issue is pending with the court of special magistrate and he, so far, did not announce verdict. However, he was vague in his answers, as first he denied the news and later said that it was a petty issue of salad quality available at Islamabad Club. When he (Khurrum) was asked that TheNation wanted to have a stance of the Secretary Club on the issue, he responded that he was talking on behalf of the Secretary and there was no need to contact him. Sale of adulterated, stale and substandard foods is rampant in the twin cities in absence of anti-adulteration drive on regular basis. Owners of a large number of hotels, restaurants and fast food shops in the city have been selling adulterated foods without any problem to the consumers. Besides, the owners do not maintain hygiene standard in their hotels or shops, the interior in most of the hotels and restaurants across the twin cities are dirty and unhygienic. Majority of the population is office workers who take meals at workplace. There are three hotels in each of 104 city markets. Aabpara Market is an exception housing seven hotels in addition to numerous food stalls. In F-8 Markaz, there are 12 food outlets. Despite difference in cost of food and service charges, hygiene and cleanliness at all these restaurants is almost the same i.e. unhygienic. Kitchen of most of these hotels were found dirty and unhygienic. Water is stored and served at these hotels in the most improper manner, raising the risk of diseases. It has been observed that dishes and other utensils were not cleaned sufficiently. A CDA Health Directorate official while talking to TheNation said that food task force was inspecting markets in different sectors of the capital on regular basis. Markets are being raided frequently to ensure provision of quality food to the citizens and stop sale of unhygienic food items. She said food samples collected from different markets were being sent to the laboratories for testing and warning notices were also being issued to the traders who had not gotten their staff vaccinated. Good quality food at affordable price has become a dream now for twin cities dwellers while the concerned quarters least bother to take action against it. Some says if strict laws and fines introduced in this regard, this menace could be eradicated.