KARACHI:
There was a crowd gathered outside Dilpasand Sweets’ North Nazimabad branch on Wednesday afternoon.The eatery is usually crowded around meal times but this crowd was not there to place orders or pick up their food. They were there to watch how their neighbourhood’s famous eatery was being sealed shut by the health authorities.
The restaurant was being shut down after a report from the Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research confirmed that a teenager died after eating a burger served at Dilpasand’s North Nazimabad branch. The burger, said the report, was not fit for human consumption.
There were reports that two hours after it was shut down, it reopened for business by tea time and then sealed again.
Senior director medical services Dr Salma, North Nazimabad assistant commissioner Shaikh Muhammad Rafiq and health deputy director Dr Muhammad Irfan Khan made their way to the restaurant 12 days after the PCSIR report was released.After a long discussion on who should seal the restaurant, Dr Salma decided to step forward and take responsibility.
Around 4pm, they made their way to the eatery along with Central SSP Noman Siddiqui. The restaurant and its bakery were forcibly emptied. However, no arrests were made and nothing was confiscated.
According to Dr Salma, the owners and managers had bail before arrest till February 28. While talking to The Express Tribune, she said that it was mentioned in the PCSIR report that the burger was not fit for human consumption. “This restaurant is a killer — the killer of Kanza Ahmed,” she said pointing towards it. “I have the power and I will ensure that it remains closed until the court takes some decision.” She added that the raid was a joint action taken by the district administration, health and food department.
Rafiq, however, maintained that he was just there for support and Dr Salma was solely responsible for taking action against the food joint. He said that they were there on directions from the provincial chief secretary, Sajjad Saleem Hotiana. According to Dr Salma, this was not being done just because of a father’s plea but also because the issue could not be ignored any longer.
“I told Dr Bari (Kanza’s father) to give me 24 hours,” she said. “And within 24 hours I have taken action.” She added that city commissioner Shoaib Ahmed Siddiqui and Sindh information minister Sharjeel Memon were also on board.
A family’s suffering
Dr Bari, who was also present at the food joint during the raid, thanked the media for taking up the issue. “It took so long to shut the it down,” he said. “But it has finally happened.” He added that he had no personal enmity with the eatery or its owners, but it was the cause of his child’s death.
According to sources, the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation’s health inspector and police had recommended that the district administration should seal the restaurant once the PCSIR report stated the food was not fit for human consumption. A source said that the recommendation has to come from the food and quality control department and then the district office and police can take action.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 26th, 2015.
Good. but What about the number of substandard shops and thella walas selling unhygienic food to customers everyday?
Welldone Dr.
@Pity:
Incidents like this are supposed to serve as deterrents to other people. That’s what process of law is all about.
If such moves gain traction in our society, it can definitely help in bringing up the hygiene standards of all the eateries in town … if only these eateries are made to realize the harsh consequences of poor hygiene up keep, we can save a few lives… …
Dilpasand is one of the best shops in Karachi. I really wonder if this is the situation with a reputed firm, what will be the status of others, lesser known?
My oh my.
We do have a quality control and food department.
Good work Dr. Salma. I believe this step would help in promoting quality and hygeine in eateries in the city.
The restaurant owner has to accept its mistake and maintain food quality hygenic and upto the standards.
Food Inspector should also visit the eateries and take stern actions against the violator.
I have lost hope in system and do not believe in this topi drama. Will some department take responsibility for allowing Dilpasand and similar eateries and thelawalas spread all over the country for serving unhygienic food served on footpaths and gutters. This action has happened because Dilpasand may not have met the demand of someone. How was Dilpasand able to grab the government land and operate in such filthy place.
This doctor is doing a good job, but yesterday a karachi`s local news channel was showing report against this doctor who sealed the restaurant. So how come there will b room for improvement when our local channels instead of appreciating the right steps will prefer a lafafa filled of few bucks. I really feel sorry.
I Think the shop owner does not belong to any political cum mafia party ,therefore all rules are being applied on his shop!
About time. Kudos to the health authorities for taking action. By the way is the sterilization up to mark in Dr Bari’s dental clinic? Or are the hand pieces and scalers just disinfected and reused on the next patient?
well well. so much drama. i guess they must have asked for good ransom from Dilpasand , which he didn’t paid. so the shop is sealed.. and quality control and food department in pakistan?? Seriously. i guess they must visit all the 3 4 STARS hotels Kitchen first. Before some Foreigner Die of there Food>>
Any details regarding what was in that burger that made the child die?
Well done Dr. Salma. Civil society and public reps should join hands and start working towards soft revolution. Bring changes that benefit the society.
Only a woman.could have shown so much determination to shut the place down! I hope it doesn’t open in the next few days after muk muka! That will really let us down!
@Pity: Oh Yes! They get unhygienic money and polluted friendship, which is pure poison. After the action by the KMC’s health department, it has jolted my memory that many footpaths and pavements are occupied by these thelawalas. Pedestrians do not even have space to walk. So, it will be a damn good ‘get rich soon’ idea to join the KMC. Salams
@pity Thella walla dont kill
I dont think that eateries like dilpasand or any other is responsible for killing ppl on hygiene matter. Where are these official of food and hygiene department earlier from this incident. Why are the not inspecting these restaurants in first place. I believe ppl like Dr. Salma are responsible, y are they not doing there job. To shut down these kind of eatries after the death of an innocent is not a job good done.