RAWALPINDI, Nov 15: The district health department has imposed a fine of Rs14,600 on some shopkeepers for selling adulterated edibles, says a press statement of the district government here on Friday.

It said the action was taken to control the menace of adulteration during the month of Ramazan and ensure provision of quality food items to the people of Rawalpindi and all other tehsils of the district.

The campaign was launched against adulteration on the directives of the District Nazim, Raja Tariq Kiani, it said. As part of the drive, special teams of the health department had taken 117 samples of basen, spices out of which 26 were proved adulterated. The department imposed a fine of Rs14,600 million has been imposed on the shopkeepers.

The executive district health officer (EDO-H), Dr Talat Iqbal, and the District Health Officer (DHO) Dr Shoaib Khan were supervising the campaign.

As much as 86 samples were taken from Rawalpindi Tehsil, 9 from Gujar Khan, 10 from Murree and 12 from Kahuta and were sent to laboratory for test. The shops from where the samples were got included bakers, milk sellers, butchers, grocer, hotel and restaurants. The EDO, health, Dr Talat Iqbal, stated that in future the samples would also be taken from Sunday Bazaars and Ramazan Fair bazaars.