KARACHI, Aug 24: The Sindh education department has been urged to ensure that hygienic standards are strictly maintained at all canteens and tuck shops at educational institutions.

Dr Qaiser Sajjad, General Secretary of the Pakistan Medical Association, Karachi chapter, said in a statement that equal responsibilities lied upon school administrations to see that only quality food item and hygienic conditions were available to their students to protect them from the rising incidence of typhoid, gastroenteritis, cholera, diarrhoea and certain allergies.

He stressed the need for action against sellers of substandard and hazardous edibles and drinks and those preparing such items without any consideration of cleanliness and health and hygiene.

He also suggested that staff for school canteens must be hired only after their proper medical examination.—APP