Daily Times

RAWALPINDI: The vicious circle of wholesalers and retailers of milk-trade in connivance of officials of civic bodies are selling sub standard and unhygienic milk in Rawalpindi city, Cantonment areas and posh areas of federal capital.

Milk of three varieties is being sold out in federal capital, first is buffaloes milk, second is of very poor quality milk which is transported through tankers from Sargodha and other areas and the third is highly unhygienic and toxic dry milk.

Sources told Daily Times that injection Oxytocin is used while milking the buffaloes to get maximum out of them. This injection is available easily at any medical store at the cost of Rs 20. 2 CC of 50 CC injection is administered to buffalo and milk is obtained in required quantity at any time. In order to preserve milk for longer time, chemical is mixed in the milk which is supplied through tankers and plastic drum. No one pays attention on cleanliness of tankers.

Those dealing in milk business inside the city purchase low quality open dry milk at cheapest rates from Narankari Bazaar and Raja Bazaar in the downtown of Rawalpindi and mix 16 to 18 liters water in one liter milk powder. In order to make this milk dense and thick, hair remover powder is mixed therein. 220 gram Khoya and sugar is blended with 40 kilogram milk in order to maintain its taste and natural sweetness.

Sources said that these anti social elements purchase 2 mounds of milk from any milk-seller and turn it into 10 to 12 mounds by using chemicals and other sub standard and toxic material. This milk is sold at renowned hotels, leading bakeries and sweet shops and in posh residential areas of twin cities.

Those who claim to be selling pure milk mix 10 liters water in 30 liters milk and its price is fixed at Rs 80 per liter. Those who mix 5 liters water sell out the milk at the rate of Rs 90 per liter.

The hazardous aspect of mixing of water into milk is that the milk-sellers who are residing alongside Korang Nullah mix Korang nullah water into milk.

According to an estimate over 3000 buffaloes are kept by milk-men in the city and daily 95000 liters milk is obtained from them which is not sufficient to cater to the needs of Rawalpindi city.

The milk is being sold out in the city at the rates ranging between Rs 60 to 100 per liter. On the other hand those who are selling unhygienic and sub standard milk have introduced attractive packages for the consumers. The citizens are provided two liters milk against purchase of one liter milk.

The project for construction of Model Gwala colony has become a distant dream due to slackness of the administration. Town Municipal administration, health department and district management started minting money in the guise of evacuation of milk-men from the city.