RAWALPINDI -

The sale of unhygienic food goes unabated in Rawalpindi. Despite health issues, street food vendors and stallholders have been selling harmful additives while food inspectors have been busy with ‘bribe business’.
This business booms in Raja Bazaar, Murree Road area, Khayaban Sir Syed and Bhabra Bazaar.  Moreover vendors and stallholders started selling substandard ice-lolly, ice-cream and beverages. The residents have raised the demand for tasking action over the issue.
This problem is not restricted to Rawalpindi, but plaguing the other cities as well. The business of street food booms as the majority of people are forced to take such foodstuffs because of its availability and ‘low price’. Authorities are blamed for abusing the food laws to mint money.
FOOD PARK PLAN
The Rawalpindi district government has approved redesigning of food street double road to turn it into a food park.
A three-member committee, comprising PHA Chairman Mushtaq Ahmad, Rawal Town administrator Saif Anwar Jappa and Cantt AC Zahid Sohail, has mulled over the recommendations to turn food restaurant to a food park instead of a restaurant market.
The body worked out plan for provision of facilities to ladies and children, lightening of the park and imparting horticulture touch to the park. Parking space will be provided separately. Activities of hotel owners will remain limited to their hotels. Joint sitting arrangement for ladies and gents will be made. The district administration has removed encroachments from the food street.
Election duties
The Punjab government has issued directives to officers of the Regional Transport Authority (RTA) to provide transport for election duties. The directives stated that one vehicle would be given to each of the polling stations while operation of the transport would be carried out through the traffic police.
Sources said that due to lesser fares, the transporters preferred to give their vehicles to the political candidates. After receiving the directives, the DCOs held meeting with the Regional Transport Authority and police officers to start operation for hiring transport for the May 11 polls. On the other hand, president of the transport union, Sultan Awan, said the local administration assured them of giving fares for the duties. He threatened to move the court against the confiscation of public transport vehicle. 
Also, the district government has approved transport plan for polls. As many as 930 vehicles will be used in seven constituencies of national assembly and Rs6.2 million will be paid as fare.  Under the directives of DCO Arshid Mehmood Langrial, RTA Secretary Owais Tariq Tarar will monitor transport plan while assistant commissioners will implement this plan. The vehicles will be rented for two days.