11 July 2004	Sunday	22 Jamadi-ul-Awwal 1425

PESHAWAR, July 10: The number of small soda water factories making spurious soft drinks in unhygienic conditions is on the rise in various parts of the city which pose a threat to public health.

An owner of the soda water factory situated in Hazarkhwani, Peshawar said that the factory had cost him about Rs200,000 where he had employed five workers.

"These five workers wash the used soft drink bottles and refill them with the soda water made at the factory," the owner said.

The used bottles were available at Kohat Road, Ring Road and Kabari bazaar.

Most of the factory owners bought the used bottles to save money. Two men who were paid Rs 2,000 each were employed at the factory to wash the bottles with water which were then refilled by the machine man.

A machine man who is filling the bottles with his bare hands and without any precautionary measures was exposed to any kind of accident. A machine man is paid Rs 3,000 per month.

"If the bottle is cracked or the amount of gas is in a little excess, the bottle can break. My hands are often cut with the glass pieces," the machine man said.

Salim Khan, a shopkeeper in Saddar said that shopkeepers bought soda water bottle from the factories for Rs three per bottle and sold it for Rs five. As the price of the soda water is low most of the people are frequently buying these soft drinks.

"The use of such soft drinks can cause hepatitis, cholera and other diseases," a doctor said.

A factory owner at Hazarkhwani, Peshawar, said that about 400 such factories are functioning in and around Peshawar.

Haroon Bilour, Nazim of Town III, when contacted said that all such factories which were causing health hazards and functioned in residential areas were illegal.