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Quaid-e-Azam Library visitors want cleaner food

* Members sign petition against canteen

Staff Report

LAHORE: One hundred and nine people have filed a petition with the director general and chief librarian of Quaid-e-Azam Library complaining about unhygienic food at the library’s canteen, Daily Times has learnt.

The petition quotes the canteen’s contract as saying tea would cost Rs 5 a cup, Rs 11 for a potato kebab and market rates for bottled water and cold drinks. “However, a cup of tea costs Rs 8, a potato kebab Rs 15 and a water bottle Rs 25,” the petition adds. The contract also states that the canteen would provide cakes, burgers, breads, chicken, mutton, biryani, milk shakes, juices, snacks, coffee, butter milk and daal chawal.

“I have been coming to the library for the past six months to study for the Civil Service exam. I need uninterrupted study for long hours, but when I get hungry I don’t eat at the canteen, as it provides nothing, and walk to Lawrence Road to get food. The walk takes about half an hour coming and going,” said Saeedur Rehman, a visitor of the library.

He said another reason for not eating at the canteen was that the food was unhygienic and that he did not want to end up in hospital. “Six months ago, I tried the daal channa and fell ill for three days. A few lunches later and I was again at the doctor,” he added.

Muhammad Ajmal Wattoo, another student, said the canteen offered a single dish menu, sticky naans, only bottled water, poor service and unhygienic conditions. He alleged that the canteen’s contractor Rashid Hussain Bhatti cooked one dish that he served for three days.

Despite of the petition, the library’s administration has claimed that it cannot take action against the contractor. Dr Mansoor Ahmed Bajwa, director general, said his predecessor had signed the contract with Rashid Hussain Bhatti. However, he refused to say whether the canteen administration had violated the rules mentioned in the contract.

The canteen administrator told Daily Times that if anybody had a problem with the food, they should complain to the library administration.

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