Administrative measures: Stopping the sale of stale sustenance

Biscuits, cold drinks, cooking oil and milk among other commodities confiscated.

MINGORA: The administration of Kabal tehsil on Wednesday launched a crackdown against shopkeepers selling stale and expired food items.

Action was taken on the directives of the assistant commissioner after the administration received several complaints. Large numbers of edible commodities, including biscuits, cold drinks, cooking oil and milk, among others, were confiscated from shops in the tehsil’s main bazaar.

The administration also imposed fines on traders for the violation and warned them to get rid of the expired items. “No laxity will be borne and strict measures will be taken against those found stocking and selling expired items in their shops. In addition to fines, violators will be put behind bars,” said Kabal’s Assistant Commissioner Javed Iqbal.

Members of the civil society appreciated the steps taken by the administration.

“This is the first time the local administration took action and conducted a campaign to end the increasing presence of expired food and other daily-use items. Otherwise, shopkeepers sell expired items openly in our area,” said Dawlatmand, a resident of the tehsil. The local communities are grateful to the administration, he added.

People asked the administration to extend the crackdown to all villages so that shopkeepers and traders may be held accountable for endangering people’s health. They also demanded the government to rein in on traders violating official prices in a similar fashion.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 25^th, 2013.