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Unhealthy Chicken meat sold in Chitral

CHITRAL, 01 Feb, 09: The residents of Chitral complained that stale and contaminated chicken meat is being sold in the bazaar in connivance of the food department officials and local administration. They said that the carcasses of the chicken already butchered are displayed in the open air exposing to dust and other contaminations.

Consumers expressed their apprehensions that the carcasses may also contain the chicken which had died on the way while being transported from Afghanistan to here via Arandu border. They said that only live chicken are to be sold in the market and according to the rules of food department, it is forbidden to sale butchered chicken. They alleged that the food department is totally indifferent to its duties and let the vendors to sell substandard meat to the people at exorbitant prices.

Many are of the view that the number of heart patients has increased manifold in the area over the recent time and the consumption of shoddy type of meat is one of the reasons. Meanwhile, district coordination officer, Chitral Mutasim Billah Shah conducted a surprise raid of the bazaar here on Saturday and recovered thousands of bags of sugar, rice, pulses and urea fertilizers which were being hoarded.

 An official of the district administration said that the raid of the DCO was meant to undo the artificial shortage of the commodities by the profiteers and hoarders. He said that the heavy fines were imposed on the hoarders and those involved in overcharging for vegetables, meats and breads. He added that the administration has resolved to sternly deal with the profiteers and hoarders and periodical and surprise raids of the markets will be conducted. . --(Zahiruddin)