THOSE who have studied in this great metropolis would know exactly what is going to be discussed here. Who can forget the amrood-wala our parents warned us about?

Or the ice-cream man who didn’t have a brand but was liked by all his customers? There was also the falsay-wala who always had the best stuff for hungry stomachs.

Yet these mouth-watering after-school snacks are things of the past, when kids used to eat whatever they desired in Karachi without fear.

Parents did warn kids about the demerits of devouring such ‘unhygienic’ edibles, though kids had a ball of a time gobbling them up anyway.

Such carefree and free-spirited living has vanished from Karachi as the city has been taken over by lawlessness. With a rise in kidnappings and other crimes in the city, where children belonging to every income bracket have been targeted, many parents are now extra careful about their children’s activities, and rightfully so. This has also affected what children eat outside school.

Kids still buy edibles from vendors, but circumstantial evidence suggests the percentage of youngsters doing so has gone down drastically for obvious reasons compared to past decades.

So what is the solution? How can kids still be able to munch on tasty snacks after school that are both hygienic and consumed in a safe environment? Perhaps school administrations should bring the vendors on board and regulate the trade.

For example, those who set up shop outside of schools can be registered with the municipal authorities to ensure what they are selling is both safe and of acceptable hygienic standards, while background checks should be conducted to ensure those with criminal backgrounds are not allowed near school buildings.

The vendors could be thoroughly checked before they get the go-ahead from the administration, and this screening process can filter out the bad eggs from the lot.

This way, vendors can continue to make a living while school-children will not be deprived of occasional tasty after-school delights.

After all, buying snacks can also help kids learn the ABCs of commerce, as they choose what they want at the price they desire or are willing to pay.—OA