Social activists demand removal of ban on soft drinks
Students, NGOs criticise provincial govt’s decision
PHOTO: AFP
MULTAN:
Members of civil society staged a protest demonstration against Punjab Food Authority (PFA) for imposing ban on sale of all type of soft drinks at educational institutions across the province.
The ban was imposed on August 14. Not only the authority has banned the sale of these soft drinks but also barred manufacturers from supplying them to any shopkeeper, canteen and drink corner situated within 100 metres of the educational institutes.
PFA bans soft drinks at educational institutions
Protests were held at Chungi Number 9 and Gulgasht Colony in Multan on Monday. The protesters were holding placards and banners inscribed with slogans against the PFA.
Civil Society Network president Maroof Naeemullah said that if the soft drinks failed to maintain international standards of health and quality then other brands should also be banned as it contains chemicals which were necessary to preserve the drink but were hazardous for health.
The protesters demanded that if necessary, ban should be imposed on all kinds of juices and drinks not only on certain soft drinks.
Muneeb Aslam, student of FSC, told The Express Tribune, “Juices of different companies are available on canteens while a soft drink manufacturing company, which has maintained international standard in terms of quality, has been banned.”
PFA seals kitchen at five-star hotel
He added, “The juices are not up to the quality standards and the provincial government should review its decision for the sake of students.”
Fahd Qureshi, another student questioned, “If cold drinks failed to maintain quality standards then why their factories are allowed to work in all major cities?” He maintained the government should ban all such factories.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 22nd, 2017.
Members of civil society staged a protest demonstration against Punjab Food Authority (PFA) for imposing ban on sale of all type of soft drinks at educational institutions across the province.
The ban was imposed on August 14. Not only the authority has banned the sale of these soft drinks but also barred manufacturers from supplying them to any shopkeeper, canteen and drink corner situated within 100 metres of the educational institutes.
PFA bans soft drinks at educational institutions
Protests were held at Chungi Number 9 and Gulgasht Colony in Multan on Monday. The protesters were holding placards and banners inscribed with slogans against the PFA.
Civil Society Network president Maroof Naeemullah said that if the soft drinks failed to maintain international standards of health and quality then other brands should also be banned as it contains chemicals which were necessary to preserve the drink but were hazardous for health.
The protesters demanded that if necessary, ban should be imposed on all kinds of juices and drinks not only on certain soft drinks.
Muneeb Aslam, student of FSC, told The Express Tribune, “Juices of different companies are available on canteens while a soft drink manufacturing company, which has maintained international standard in terms of quality, has been banned.”
PFA seals kitchen at five-star hotel
He added, “The juices are not up to the quality standards and the provincial government should review its decision for the sake of students.”
Fahd Qureshi, another student questioned, “If cold drinks failed to maintain quality standards then why their factories are allowed to work in all major cities?” He maintained the government should ban all such factories.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 22nd, 2017.