LAHORE: The PPP submitted on Wednesday a bill to the Punjab Assembly proposing amendments to the Punjab Food Adulteration Ordinance, 1960, which deals with the terms of imprisonment and fine for those involved in food adulteration.

PPP MPA Khurram Jehangir Wattoo submitted the bill to the assembly.

The amendments proposed suggest three-year imprisonment and Rs300,000 fine for those committing the offense.

At present there is provision of only one-year imprisonment and Rs100,000 fine for the convicts.

It also proposes five-year imprisonment and Rs500,000 fine for food adulteration. presently there is provision for three-year imprisonment and Rs300,000 fine for it.

Mr Jehangir said the existing terms of imprisonment and fine had failed to achieve the purpose of the Ordinance. It was a matter of public health as the proliferation of diseases among the people were directly linked to food adulteration

TAX OPPOSED: PPP central Punjab president Mian Manzoor Wattoo has demanded the government should stop issuing tax notices to farmers on their agricultural produce.

“Tax on agricultural produce should be withdrawn immediately failing which the farmers will take extreme steps against the government like paralysing the administration,” he said.

He said imposition of the tax would place the farmers at the mercy of the assessing officers who would have no idea of productivity of agricultural land, leading to excessive corrupt practices.

“The fair collection of this tax is impracticable”, he said.

Published in Dawn, May 7th, 2015

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