ISLAMABAD, Oct 26: The draf t Islamabad Capital Territory Local Government Bill 2013 recognises adulteration and unsafe storage and sale of eatables as a serious crime.

The draft, a copy of which is available with Dawn, proposes Rs6,000 fine in case of adulteration and unsafe storage of eatables by large restaurants, hotels and shops and Rs1,000 by small entities.

It is a common complaint in Islamabad that the quality of food available in the market is not hygienic.

The draft law also considers manufacturing, trading, storing or supplying of any eatable or drink unsafe for human consumption or public health as a crime.

The draft legislation is expected to be placed before the cabinet, probably in its next meeting.

On October 21, Additional Attorney General Shah Khawar had assured the Supreme Court during the hearing of the local government elections case in the country that after getting the nod from the cabinet the law would be promulgated through a presidential ordinance.

The ordinance will help the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to arrange the local government elections both in the rural as well as urban areas of the federal capital.

Supplying or marketing of drinking water for human consumption in any form from any contaminated source or suspected to bedangerous to the public health, or its use, has also been prohibited.

The proposed law also sees as a crime the menace of begging by exposing any deformity, disease or an offensive sore or wound. A fine of Rs1,000 has been suggested as the penalty for such an offence.

Similarly, discharging dangerous chemical, inflammable, hazardous or offensive article into any drain or sewer, watercourse or public land in a manner that may cause danger to persons passing by or living or working in the neighbourhood will be an offence.

Besides, the cultivation of agriculture produce or crop, for supply or sale to the public or irrigating it with sewer or any injurious liquid as may be injurious to public health or offensive to the neighbourhood, is also includedin thelist of the offences.

It will also be an offence to manufacture, store, trade in or carry firecrackers, fire balloons or detonators or any dangerous chemical, inflammable, hazardous or offensive article or material without licence from the authority.

Interestingly, establishing any parking stand on any property or on any open space and public park managed, maintained or controlled by the local government without sanction will also be considered an offense.

The law also prohibits quarrying, blasting, cutting timber or carrying building operations that causes or is likely to cause danger to persons passing by or living or working in the neighbourhood.