RAWALPINDI: Five days after a Lahore-based family of four died due to suspected food poisoning on the motorway near Bhera, the motorway police swung into action and launched a campaign against expired items being sold at shops and hotels located in the service areas.

A spokesman for the motorway police said on Wednesday that the campaign against overcharging and sale of expired items at shops and hotels was underway.

Assistant commissioners, motorway police and food authority conducted a joint operation on Motorway M1, M2, Swat Expressway and Hazara Expressway, he said, adding that during the ongoing campaign, food items were checked by the joint team and expired items were discarded by the motorway police.

Besides a fine of more than Rs350,000 was imposed and many shops sealed, the spokesman said.

Five members of a family were found semi-conscious in a car spotted by the motorway police on the side of motorway during routine patrolling. The family was travelling from Lahore to Islamabad.

Later the family was rushed to the Tehsil Headquarters Hospital Bhera but they succumbed to the suspected poisoning despite efforts by the medical staff. The postmortem report was being processed and the authorities have yet not determined the cause of the deaths.

Published in Dawn, August 29th, 2024