It is commonly said that prevention is better than cure but in our society there no little awareness among us about the health problem. Every medicine is available without prescription and people are taking it at will. The same attitude applies to the healthy foods. There is little desire from the public and government to do any thing about it. Both the government department and general public awareness can do anything to provide healthy foods.
Laws are present like PPC 1860 and Pakistan Pure Food Ordinance 1960. Local authorities are responsible to enforce the law but I think no one even knows about it.
Public awareness is also very important. Everybody can see that those raw foods are kept in hygienic conditions. We can see that the daighs are buried in slabs and nehari and other items are prepared under it. There is no concept to change the oil as nobody asks.
There is Pakistan Restaurant Act 1976 but there is no system that a person can file an application like we are accustomed to lodging FIR in a police station. Drug inspector can do it on his own will but there are no binding laws. I have written this letter for public awareness so that public itself should act. A lot of things depend upon how we take things. They should be serious towards their health issues.
MADIHA IRSHAD
Karachi
