PFA: Knight in shining armour

There is no doubt that the Punjab Food Authority (PFA) has worked wonders in the province, and will continue to do so in the future too. But its activities of the recent past makes one ponder why such an authority isn’t being established in other provinces as well.

The problem of eateries operating in unhygienic conditions and serving substandard food is one that the whole of Pakistan suffers from. There is a lack of attention paid to hygiene everywhere, not just in Punjab. Moreover, there are eateries in Lahore, which have been sealed and which also have branches in Sindh and other provinces. When will this become a matter of concern for the authorities responsible?

We should also consider the popular dhaba culture that has caught on fast in Karachi, where tea, coffee, snacks, desi food etc. are all served. The food is delicious and economical, with such restaurants being mainly famous for their aromatic tea. Individuals from all social backgrounds tend to frequent these eateries.

These dhabas basically comprise a wooden structure, encircled by charpais meant for the customers. As they are based on the roadside, not only are they vulnerable to pollution, but also insects and stray animals roaming the area. I’m pointing this out not to get them sealed, but to merely urge the setting of hygiene standards. It is wise to take all sorts of safety measures, whether one frequents a dhaba or a fancy restaurant.

What can’t be denied is that Pakistan is on the road to improvement. The PFA has taken a commendable step for the good of the citizens of Punjab, and the authorities in other provinces should learn and apply these efforts in their domains as well.

Also, it is not just urban areas of the country that need the presence of such authorities, but also our rural areas, as they suffer the most in terms of lack of hygiene.

There is hope that we will soon see entities on the lines of the PFA coming up in Sindh, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan as well. Lack of food hygiene is a national issue and should be treated as such.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 24^th, 2015.