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| Harmful industrial oil being sold as edible |
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Friday, November 07, 2008
By Our Correspondent
LAHORE
POULTRY protein processing units are selling harmful “industrial oil”, which is being used as edible oil by different vendors resulting in spread of dangerous diseases in the provincial capital.
This was alleged by Major Arif, chairman of an NGO, Pathfinders, in a press conference held at a hotel here on Thursday.
The NGO is working to get rid of hazards these protein processing units were spreading in the city’s environment.
Major Arif disclosed that five poultry processing units were operating in the city and were producing seven-tonne oil daily.
He said the oil produced during the protein extraction process was very harmful for human consumption and should be coloured blue or red so that it should not be used as edible oil.
He alleged that these units used to sell this oil to various people especially small vendors who used it in frying fish, samosas and other items, which resulted in serious affects on the health of their consumers.
He said these units were established in Mohlanwal area, which was a residential area and some two years ago, the NGO started a campaign to remove these units from this locality.
A petition was moved before the High Court against the units, in result of which four units agreed to shift from the area except M/S Adrees & Co, he said, adding the said unit took up their case in Supreme Court and got time to shift from the place till December 31st but the decision was not implemented. He alleged that the DCO was involved in illegal means on behalf of owners of the processing units and was supporting them by giving them more time to shift.
He alleged that the Environmental Protection Department and Health Department were also not fulfilling their responsibilities by not taking any action against these dangerous polluters.
He demanded the Punjab government to take a serious note of the situation and stop sale of oil produced by these units as edible oil and direct these units that they should give blue or red colour to the oil they produce so that consumer could distinguish between industrial oil and cooking oil.
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ISSN 1563-9479 
