LAHORE, Aug 21: District nazim Mian Amer Mahmood has directed that blood tests of cooks and waiters working in city restaurants should be carried out with a view to ensuring that they are not suffering from hepatitis and other contagious diseases.

He was presiding over a meeting of City District Government departments at Jinnah Hall on Monday. The DCO, EDOs and officials concerned attended the meeting.

Mian Amer sought strict adherence to hygienic principles and wearing of hats and gloves by cooks and butlers while cooking. He ordered registration of their particulars besides displaying their lists in hotels and restaurants for public information.

He directed issuance of a letter to heads of all city hospitals for ensuring cleanliness of canteens and cafeterias on their premises.

Taking a serious view of the construction of 1,126 commercial plazas and markets on 118 city roads during past five years without payment of commercialisation fee, he directed that explanation should be sought from TMOs concerned and TO (P&C) for overlooking illegal construction.

He directed preparation of an estimate of commercialisation fee to be collected from theses plazas and carrying out a third party survey for ascertaining the actual number of such buildings in the city.

The nazim directed that uniform rules of construction should be applied on a particular road for ensuring construction of plazas in a straight line so that traffic flow should be smooth.

Mian Amer ordered immediate removal of encroachments from the vicinity of Minar-i-Pakistan for safeguarding its beauty and grandeur.

He sought launching of an anti-encroachment operation in this area on regular basis.

He also directed cleansing of service lanes of Ravi Road adjacent to Iqbal Park daily and eliminating illegally functioning PCOs there.