Sale of substandard food, fire in Margallas discussed

Chief Commissioner Durrani tells committee both CDA, IMC shying from responsibilities

Senate Standing Committee on Interior on Thursday took serious note of sale of substandard food, particularly milk and meat and fire in Margalla Hills.

Committee Chairman Senator Rehman Malik asked the district administration what mechanism was being followed to control sale of substandard milk and meat in Capital.



He expressed concerns over the failure of Islamabad Capital Territory Administration (ICTA) to extinguish fires that broke out in the Margalla Hills last week which destroyed trees in thousands.

Regarding illegal housing societies, Malik said, these dubious ventures were minting money from poor people through different illegal means and allottees were not being facilitated as promised.

Senator Malik asked the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to set up a complaint cell for redressing complaints of people affected by illegal housing societies.



He asked Islamabad Chief Commissioner Aftab Akbar Durrani to brief the committee in detail about housing societies in Islamabad.

The chief commissioner briefed the committee about the structure and functions of the Islamabad administration and its attached departments.

Malik asked about checking the quality of food and price control adding that he has news that adulterated milk and dead animals’ meat is being sold in Islamabad. He directed the Chief Commissioner Durrani to adopt prompt measures to get rid of this heinous crime.

The senator said that he has the news that even shampoo is mixed in the milk. Considered a healthy diet, milk is being prepared artificially using injurious chemicals, he said.

The members of the committee showed concern regarding numerous issues that are faced by citizens of Islamabad. Special interest was taken in the mechanism that is used by Islamabad Capital Territory Administration (ICTA) for quality control of food and beverages as well as monitoring of food prices.

Chief Commissioner Durrani showed dismay over the CDA administration saying that both CDA and Islamabad Municipal Corporation (IMC) were not ready to accept their due responsibilities and he had never seen Islamabad dirty as much he has been witnessing in last three years.

Malik expressed concerns over the failure of ICTA to extinguish fires that broke out in the Margalla Hills last week which destroyed trees in thousands. Chief Commissioner Islamabad told the committee that neither CDA nor the MCI was accepting the responsibility to extinguish the fire nor both had the capability. Chairman Committee directed an inquiry into the incident of fire in Margalla Hill which he witnesses every year saying the responsible officials should dealt under the law.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 22^nd, 2018.