THE Sindh and Punjab food departments are playing havoc with the lives of the people.

Recently some private manufacturers managed to sell about 25m substandard polypropylene bags to the provincial food department for procurement drive 2014, causing a loss of millions to the Punjab government.

Under wheat procurement 2013-14, the food department of Punjab purchased 50m polypropylene bags. According to the specification of the department, each of these bags must have been at least 109.25 grams each.

If 25m polypropylene bags are short of weight by 25 grams each, it means the food department has been deprived of about five million polypropylene bags.

The minute pores in jute bags allow the stored grain to absorb moisture from the atmosphere.

However, when wheat is stored in polypropylene bags during sunlight, it mixes with the wheat and causes cancer, leading to death.

Jute bags are much more suitable for storing grain, including wheat, in a country like Pakistan which has high temperatures and humidity.

The federal government is requested to penalise the food department regarding polypropylene packing which is hazardous for storing food.

Jamal Malik
Lahore

Published in Dawn, July 25th , 2014