PFA has its tentacles far and wide
Since inception, authority sealed over 3,249 food outlets for not adhering to standards
Noorul Amin Mengal PHOTO: ZAHOORUL HAQ
LAHORE:
After completing five years in the provincial capital, Punjab Food Authority (PFA) has expanded its operation to all 36 districts of the province.
The PFA annual report was issued on Sunday and showed the provincial food watchdog raided nearly 200,000 food outlets across Punjab to inspect the quality of products in 2017. The authority had sealed over 3,249 food outlets for not adhering to food regulations and maintaining cleanliness standards.
PFA food safety officials also issued over 128,000 warning notices to improve food quality and hygiene standards.
Govt to set up ‘Islamabad Food Authority’
The authority had registered FIRs against owners of 156 food outlets which were involved in adulteration and the sale of substandard food products during the current year.
The authority had also sent 78 food vendors behind bars for failing to comply with provincial food regulations. In addition, PFA officials imposed fines of over Rs100 million on food outlets, hotels, restaurants and food processing units. Operations wing of the provincial food watchdog had also issued around 40,000 new e-licenses to food outlets during 2017.
PFA Director General Noorul-Amin Mengal said that the Punjab Food Authority Act was approved in 2011. The authority had started its operation from Lahore as it did not have any infrastructure and resources for operations in other districts of Punjab, he added.
However, the authority had extended its operations to all the districts of Punjab and had been trying to eradicate adulteration and sale of substandard food items, he said.
He underscored that the operations wing of the provincial food watchdog was the backbone of the organisation which was not only enforcing regulations, but also successfully creating awareness successfully among businesses and the masses.
K-P sets up food safety authority
Ahead of Christmas, PFA officials inspected the quality of food products being sold at Sunday markets near Christian communities in the city. Under the supervision of the PFA DG, food safety officers inspected products quality at various weekly makeshift markets, including Yohanabad, Nishtar Colony, Bahar Colony, Wahdat Road and others.
PFA officials imposed penalty on 29 stall owners and discarded huge quantities of different food items. The authority had constituted special teams and increased workforce to check the quality of products in Sunday markets before Christmas, said a spokesman of the authority.
He highlighted that these teams will remain active in the the provincial capital till December 25 and will take prompt action on public complaints and ensure availability of quality food products to the Christian community during their days of festivity.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 25th, 2017.
After completing five years in the provincial capital, Punjab Food Authority (PFA) has expanded its operation to all 36 districts of the province.
The PFA annual report was issued on Sunday and showed the provincial food watchdog raided nearly 200,000 food outlets across Punjab to inspect the quality of products in 2017. The authority had sealed over 3,249 food outlets for not adhering to food regulations and maintaining cleanliness standards.
PFA food safety officials also issued over 128,000 warning notices to improve food quality and hygiene standards.
Govt to set up ‘Islamabad Food Authority’
The authority had registered FIRs against owners of 156 food outlets which were involved in adulteration and the sale of substandard food products during the current year.
The authority had also sent 78 food vendors behind bars for failing to comply with provincial food regulations. In addition, PFA officials imposed fines of over Rs100 million on food outlets, hotels, restaurants and food processing units. Operations wing of the provincial food watchdog had also issued around 40,000 new e-licenses to food outlets during 2017.
PFA Director General Noorul-Amin Mengal said that the Punjab Food Authority Act was approved in 2011. The authority had started its operation from Lahore as it did not have any infrastructure and resources for operations in other districts of Punjab, he added.
However, the authority had extended its operations to all the districts of Punjab and had been trying to eradicate adulteration and sale of substandard food items, he said.
He underscored that the operations wing of the provincial food watchdog was the backbone of the organisation which was not only enforcing regulations, but also successfully creating awareness successfully among businesses and the masses.
K-P sets up food safety authority
Ahead of Christmas, PFA officials inspected the quality of food products being sold at Sunday markets near Christian communities in the city. Under the supervision of the PFA DG, food safety officers inspected products quality at various weekly makeshift markets, including Yohanabad, Nishtar Colony, Bahar Colony, Wahdat Road and others.
PFA officials imposed penalty on 29 stall owners and discarded huge quantities of different food items. The authority had constituted special teams and increased workforce to check the quality of products in Sunday markets before Christmas, said a spokesman of the authority.
He highlighted that these teams will remain active in the the provincial capital till December 25 and will take prompt action on public complaints and ensure availability of quality food products to the Christian community during their days of festivity.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 25th, 2017.