Establishment of BFA on the cards

Food secretary says proposal sent to govt for appointment of DG

ISLAMABAD: Balochistan Secretary for Food Asghar Harifal on Tuesday sent the proposal to the provincial government for the establishment of Balochistan Food Authority to regulate and monitor food business in the province for provision of hygienic food items to the people.

He said the proposal also contains the appointment of Director General (DG) to head the Balochistan Food Authority for food safety and quality control.

Talking to APP, he said with the appointment of a DG, the authority will be able to check and monitor all the packed and unpacked food items as well as restaurants' food standard.



He said that the authority would be mandated to formulate standards, procedures and guidelines in relation to any aspect of food, including food business, food labelling and food additives, to specify appropriate enforcement systems.

The secretary said, “After the appointment of DG, the government has planned to endorse proper food laboratories enabled with methods of sampling, analysis of samples and report formation of results to take specific measures to curtail adulteration in food all over Balochistan with its headquarters in Quetta.”



He said it will specify licensing of the food outlets and prohibition orders, recall procedures, improve notices and prosecutions and will provide technical support by the government in matters related to food.

"No one will be given a free hand and exemption from law," he underscored.

Samad Tareen, a hotel owner in Quetta said, “We are in favour of establishing a powerful food authority in Balochistan for checking on the spot.”

He urged mobile courts to punish the people at once so that rampant corruption and adulteration is brought to a complete halt.

Sadique Hamzazai said the government should establish a credible lab or equip the existing ones to make the authority functional without an