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Lahore's food vendors may get modern pushcarts
KHALID HASNAIN — UPDATED ABOUT 3 HOURS AGO
LAHORE: The divisional administration is likely to start implementing a pilot project in the provincial metropolis aimed at replacing the outdated food stuff pushcarts with new ones designed by experts from the National College of Arts, University of Engineering and Technology and other public and private sector institutions.
The modern pushcarts, according to Lahore commissioner, have been designed to ensure basic hygiene standards of the eatables on sale on roads and streets of the city.
“We have so far selected seven models of the newly-designed pushcarts and will go for another round to shortlist a couple of pushcarts out of these (designs) during third week of the ongoing month,” Commissioner Abdullah Khan Sumbal told Dawn on Sunday.
He said the street and roadside food vendors would receive modern pushcarts under a soft loan (Qarza-i-Hasna) scheme from a micro credit organisation—Akhuwat. They (the vendors) would stop using their outdated pushcarts soon after getting the new ones funded by the organisation, he added.
“The Punjab government too will award subsidy to the vendors. But the percentage of the official contribution will be decided in consultation with the quarters concerned. However, we will ensure that a vendor should not feel any financial burden while getting the new pushcart,” Mr Sumbal explained.
Talking about the number of existing pushcarts in Lahore, the commissioner said the Urban Unit—a subsidiary of the planning and development department -- had been assigned the task to conduct a survey in this regard. The unit is working these days and would submit the survey report to the divisional administration soon, he added.
He said once the pilot project proved successful, it would be replicated in the entire metropolis under a mega project. “But how many pushcarts we can give under the pilot project is being worked out these days. And it will be finalised soon in consultation with the Akhuwat’s top management,” he said.
The commissioner believed that the project would also help improve the city’s look, besides introducing a culture of food hygiene and cleanliness standards. It would result in improved public health, he hoped.
Published in Dawn, October 19th , 2015
KHALID HASNAIN — UPDATED ABOUT 3 HOURS AGO
LAHORE: The divisional administration is likely to start implementing a pilot project in the provincial metropolis aimed at replacing the outdated food stuff pushcarts with new ones designed by experts from the National College of Arts, University of Engineering and Technology and other public and private sector institutions.
The modern pushcarts, according to Lahore commissioner, have been designed to ensure basic hygiene standards of the eatables on sale on roads and streets of the city.
“We have so far selected seven models of the newly-designed pushcarts and will go for another round to shortlist a couple of pushcarts out of these (designs) during third week of the ongoing month,” Commissioner Abdullah Khan Sumbal told Dawn on Sunday.
He said the street and roadside food vendors would receive modern pushcarts under a soft loan (Qarza-i-Hasna) scheme from a micro credit organisation—Akhuwat. They (the vendors) would stop using their outdated pushcarts soon after getting the new ones funded by the organisation, he added.
“The Punjab government too will award subsidy to the vendors. But the percentage of the official contribution will be decided in consultation with the quarters concerned. However, we will ensure that a vendor should not feel any financial burden while getting the new pushcart,” Mr Sumbal explained.
Talking about the number of existing pushcarts in Lahore, the commissioner said the Urban Unit—a subsidiary of the planning and development department -- had been assigned the task to conduct a survey in this regard. The unit is working these days and would submit the survey report to the divisional administration soon, he added.
He said once the pilot project proved successful, it would be replicated in the entire metropolis under a mega project. “But how many pushcarts we can give under the pilot project is being worked out these days. And it will be finalised soon in consultation with the Akhuwat’s top management,” he said.
The commissioner believed that the project would also help improve the city’s look, besides introducing a culture of food hygiene and cleanliness standards. It would result in improved public health, he hoped.
Published in Dawn, October 19th , 2015
