PFA is harassing business community, allege FCCI official

Says such behaviour is unacceptable

FAISALABAD: Punjab Food Authority (PFA) is harassing the business community under the garb of ‘adulteration’.

It was established to ensure provision of hygienic food to the masses rather than imposing penalties and punishment to those involved in food business. This was said by Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FCCI) Acting President Rana Sikandar Azam.



He said, “The PFA should not to be used to penalise or create harassment among the business community. Cleanliness and adulteration are declared social and moral crimes and we should try our best to promote cleanliness with a clear objective to discourage any form of adulteration in eatable products."

The FCCI official pointed out, “The PFA should avoid sealing shops, bakeries and factories till receipt of laboratory report of the food samples.” He said the media trial of those related with the food business is also objectionable and is badly affecting their reputation. He commented, “Such kind of behavior by the PFA is unacceptable and intolerable.”



Sikandar Azam said the FCCI registered members were 5,000 but the organization was trying its best to resolve the issue of non-members. He said, “We will invite Punjab Food Authority DG to visit FCCI and discuss the food related issues with the stakeholders concerned.

Meanwhile, a trader’s representative Haji Naeem said, “We are against adulteration but there should be separate guidelines for adulterators and on issues of cleanliness.”

 

Published in The Express Tribune, July 24^th, 2017.