Milk-sellers protest against PFA crackdown

Milk Sellers and Suppliers Association holds demonstration at Thokar Niaz Beg

LAHORE: The Punjab Food Authority (PFA) on Monday continued its crackdown against adulterated and sub-standard milk products as well as inspection of food outlets in Lahore.

The authority sealed eight milk shops in various areas of the city. The PFA Ravi Town food safety officers sealed warehouse of Akram Bodi Milk Shop in Taxali Gate area over poor cleanliness. The shop staff did not have medical certificates required under provincial food regulations.



PFA officials also sealed Munir Attari Milk Shop, Harmain Milk Shop and Akram Bodi Milk Shop in Bhati Gate for selling sub-standard milk.

The authority’s Aziz Bhati and Wagha Town officials sealed Noshahi Qadri Milk Shop on Pepsi Road for operating business without food license. Similarly, Allama Iqbal Town food safety officers sealed Al-Jannat Milk Shop on College Road for selling adulterated milk. The milk shop had very poor hygiene.

In another inspection, PFA’s Gulberg Town officials sealed Masha Allah Milk Shop and Ayoubia Milk Shop. Both milk outlets did not have food licences. The authority had collected milk samples from all milk shops for laboratory examination.

The food authority’s Nishtar Town food safety officers sealed Super Fine Bakers on unhygienic conditions. The bakery shop had not obtained a food licence from the authority.

PFA Data Ganj Baksh Town and Shalimar Town officials sealed Phajja Sri Paya for not making proper arrangements for insect control. The cleanliness in the restaurant was unsatisfactory. The workers did not have medical certificates.



Nairang Café and Art Gallery on Jail Road was also sealed on poor cleanliness. The café was using rotten vegetables in food. Several workers did not have medical certificates. Mouse droppings were also found in bread crumbs. The café’s freezers were found to be very dirty. Ghosia Naan Shop and Chanay in Nishtar Town were also sealed for similar reasons.

Protest

Milk Sellers and Suppliers Association (MSSA) staged a protest at Thokar Niaz Beg against the PFA crackdown. MSSA president Chaudhry Naseer Gujjar said they had reservations over the inspection procedure.

“PFA officers are not trained to check the milk quality,” he said. A large number of milk-sellers and suppliers blocked the main road and chanted slogans against food authority.

Zargham, a milk-seller, said that the business had been badly affected due to frequent PFA raids. “The authority’s ad-hoc strategy to regulate milk businesses has become a headache for us. The PFA should establish permanent check posts at entrances to the city to check milk quality, instead of raiding shops,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 23^rd, 2016.