LAHORE, June 10: Special machines will be installed at all petrol filling stations in the city for punching used lubricant cans to check their refilling with spurious product while a union of traders involved in the nasty business has been given one-week ultimatum to stop the practice.

The decision to introduce the machines was taken at a meeting between DCO Muhammad Ijaz and the Pakistan Petroleum Dealers Association office-bearers here on Saturday.

The body’s representatives would fabricate the machines and give its demonstration to the DCO on Friday, sources said.

The DCO would hold surprise visits of filling stations on Sunday to check if the machines had been installed at all stations in the city.

According to District Officer (Environment) Tariq Zaman, over 60 per cent of the lubricants marketed in the city had spurious product and Badami Bagh area was the hub for its preparation.

The DCO later held a meeting with Badami Bagh traders’ union and took up the matter with them. The traders were of the view that owing to high cost of lubricants, they were preparing spurious products “to meet the requirements of less-privileged classes like rickshaw drivers.”

The DCO, however, gave them a week to close down this business warning them that zero tolerance would be shown in this regard, sources said.

Meanwhile, Mr Ijaz has ordered an inquiry against the officials who have issued NOC for construction of a marriage hall on The Mall close to the Zafar Ali Road.

From Charing Cross up to the Mian Mir railway overhead bridge, The Mall is a prohibited area where no commercial building can be constructed.

The marriage hall, sources said, was owned by a man who was closely related with a federal minister from Lahore. So far he was using the site for organising marriages under tents.

The DCO has immediately moved a summary to the chief secretary for action against the proprietor, it is learnt.

Similarly, a case has been registered against Munawwar Lodhi for constructing a marriage hall in Racecourse Park area.

FOOD SQUAD: A food squad of the CDGL impounded a truck (LOK-4459) at Saggian Bridge, carrying substandard vegetable ghee and cooking oil to the city. As much as 3,520 kilograms of ghee and 1,440 litres of oil were seized and truck driver Muhammad Sharif was arrested.

In another raid, Muhammad Ahmad was held carrying spurious soft drinks in quantity in a pick-up (PY-2338) at Bhatti Chowk on the Ravi Road. Both the suspects have been challenged under food by-laws.

Another squad arrested 14 butchers from Chauburji, Gowalmandi, Lower Mall and Gulberg areas for selling poor quality meat and that, too, at exorbitant rates.