SHANGLA: A multiparty jirga here on Tuesday asked the district administration to stop transportation and sale of substandard snacks, chips and beverages in Shangla district as these food items were hazardous for children’s health.

The jirga was held in Bisham with assistant commissioner Wajid Ali in the chair. Prominent among those participated in the jirga were Humayun Khan, Haji Rahim Shah, Ijaz Kamal, Syed Wasi Shah, trade union representatives and members of youth jirga.

Humayun Khan said that shopkeepers were being fined heavily by the local administration on minor violations, but no action was taken against the manufacturers of substandard food items and beverages.

He pointed out that a large number of illegal clinics were operating in the district, but the administration was unmoved.

Fazal Elahi, a member of the Youth Jirga, said substandard snacks, chips and other food items were manufactured in Swat and supplied to bazaars in Shangla. He demanded of the district administration to impose ban on transportation of these substandard items to Shangla.

He urged the Bisham tehsil administration to facilitate tourists coming from different parts of the country instead of imposing fines on them.

Rahim Shah said dumping of garbage along the Karakoram Highway near Bisham town was a major issue facing the people. He said the administration should take practical measures to ensure cleanliness in the area.

On the occasion, Bisham Assistant Commissioner Wajid Ali said that public issues remained unresolved because Bisham had not been given the status of a subdivision. He said TMA staff would be sanctioned for the area once Bisham was made subdivision.

He ordered the SHO Bisham Habib Syed to collect data of all the clinics and said that those running illegally would be sealed.

Published in Dawn, September 13th, 2017