LAHORE - The Punjab government is evaluating the proposal of disallowing ethanol contents in fruit drinks, sources informed The Nation on Wednesday. The revised Pure Food Rules 2007 allows use of ethanol as solvent or preservative in fruit juices, mainly in apple and grape fruit juices. Ethanol is form of alcohol the use of which is prohibited in Pakistan with the exception of some medicines. With the provision in rules to use ethanol in fruit juices triggered debate that whether such a substance should be allowed in food items in an Islamic country like Pakistan, the Punjab government decided to reconsider the decision and disallow its usage in packed grape fruit and apple juices. The CDG health department officials told The Nation that Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry raised objection on certain provision of the revised Pure Food Rules 2007 and submitted its proposals for making them more effective and in accordance with the requirements of citizens. The revised Pure Food Rules 2007 allows ethanol contents in packed apple and grape fruit juices. LCCI has submitted that ethanol contents should not be allowed in any type of juices in an Islamic country. Government is evaluating this demand and many other proposals of the LCCI. Series of meetings have taken place to incorporate proposals of the LCCI in Pure Food Rules 2007, said a CDG official while expressing hope that the LCCI proposal regarding withdrawal of the option of using ethanol in fruit juices would be accepted and made part of the revised Pure Food Rules 2007. Majority of the people may be unaware about the presence of ethanol in fruit juices they are consuming. It is really harsh on the part of the government to let its citizens to consume ethanol unknowingly, he said, adding, the deletion of the provision of using ethanol would be the right decision. He said that the LCCI has also proposed adding word 'nectar on packet after the fruit juice drinks.