FAISALABAD, Feb 13: A US-based food product company has been found guilty of creating air pollution and discharging waste water into the Wasa sewerage system without treatment.

The district officer (environment) has summoned the management of the Rafhan Maize Products Company Limited to appear on Feb 19 and explain why the firm is causing health hazards and violating environmental laws.

The Rafhan Maize is the pioneer in producing energy powder, corn oil, custard powder, corn flour, chicken cubes, starch, noodles, jelly, pudding and soups in Pakistan.

The unit is located in the heart of the city adjacent to the Rakh Branch Canal on eastern side. Posh localities like Madina Town, Kohinoor Nagar, Abdullahpur, People's Colony, Saeed Colony and Khayaban Colony are situated around the unit.

Information gleaned by this correspondent revealed that the residents of several areas, especially Abdullahpur and People's Colony, had long been making hue and cry against the company which, they complained, had been creating pollution during the whole process.

They said the company was earning record profits from this unit, but its management had not bothered to take appropriate steps to control air pollution and install treatment plant.

The notice issued to the firm by the DO charged its management with creating air pollution and throwing filthy water directly in the Wasa system without treatment. The notice further read that the survey of the unit conducted on Feb 2, 2005 by the local Environment Protection Agency had confirmed the situation.

ROBBERY: Highwaymen plundered Rs150,000 in cash and a cellular phone set from a son of a local trader on the Satiana Road here on Friday. Reports said Farman Ahmad was going home after drawing cash from a bank. A gang of robbers stopped the boy and plundered cash and mobile set at gunpoint.