Crackdown continues : Hardee’s, KFC fined over unhygienic kitchens

ICT admin takes action against several eateries and illegal clinics

ISLAMABAD:

Two of the city’s famous fast food outlets — Hardee’s in Sector F-7 and KFC in Sector F-6 — were heavily fined by the capital administration for posing danger to public health owing to unhygienic conditions in their kitchens and using substandard edible oil.

Both the outlets were collectively imposed a fine of Rs200,000.

However, a manager at Hardee’s, when contacted, said the outlet was only inspected.

A store at KFC was also sealed by a team headed by assistant commissioner Kamran Cheema.The KFC branch could  not be reached for their version.

In Blue Area, Fresco Sweets, Usmania Restaurant, Jahangir Restaurant, and Regalia Hotel at Sector G-6 were also sealed.

Similarly, a number of eateries at the city’s sole food street — Melody Food Park — also came under the scanner of food inspection teams of the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Administration.

Following the inspection at the food street, five eateries, including Dhaka Fish, Savour Foods, Jahangir Tikka, Sharif Tikka and Sattar Tikka, were sealed for extremely unhygienic conditions.

Teams also made some arrests and lodged FIRs against the management at the respective police stations.

Action against quacks

Additional deputy commissioner Islamabad Capt (retd) Abdul Sattar Isani informed The Express Tribune that besides food outlets, the teams also raided and sealed some 13 hospitals and clinics being run by quacks in Golra and Mehraabadi areas of Islamabad.

At least five assistants impersonating as qualified doctors were also arrested while seven others managed to escape from the scenes as the teams arrived.

Premises sealed include Sobia Dawa Khana Golra, City Hospital Golra, Saeed Welfare Hospital Golra, Ali Baba Medical Store Golra, Shah G Medical Centre Meherabadi, Al-Jadoon Hospital, Children Hospital Meherabadi, Bacha Clinic Meherabadi, Wahab Clinic Meherabadi, Jadoon Medical Center Meherabadi, Al-Shifa Clinic Meherabadi and Zaman Clinic Golra.

Isani said some of the quacks were even undertaking illegal abortions with highly unsterilised medical equipment.

He explained the sealed restaurants had clean sitting areas, but the kitchens were filthy. He said operations against adulterators and quackery would continue in the coming days.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 21^st,  2015.