Towns to back food inspectors on raids

Interim work plan drawn up until Punjab Food Authority is formed.

LAHORE:

Food inspectors will raid factories and restaurants as part of well-staffed town municipal administration (TMA) teams during Ramazan, as an interim arrangement ahead of the full implementation of the Punjab Food Authority Act, The Express Tribune has learnt.

Previously, the food inspectors were part of the city government’s food department, which reported directly to the district coordination officer. The department’s functions are to be transferred to the Punjab Food Authority, but that has not been formed yet.

The inspectors have now started shifting to the nine TMAs of the city and this process is complete in Allama Iqbal Town, Nishter Town, Samanabad Town and Data Gunj Bakhsh Town. The TMAs can direct the inspectors to conduct raids under the Punjab Pure Food Rules 2007.

Previously, these food inspectors had conducted raids accompanied by one or two subordinates. As a result, they were often met with resistance, and sometimes beaten up when they tried to penalise people for violations.

Now when they conduct raids, they will be accompanied by a labour inspector, drug inspector and veterinary inspector, along with other town staff and local police. After raids, the town staff and food inspectors will submit separate reports that will eventually end up with the DCO. Town staff will send their reports via their administrator, who will send it to the senior administration officer of the DCO. Food inspectors will send their reports to the district officer (food), who in turn will forward it to the DCO.

District Officer (Food) Dr Masood Ashraf said the new system would ease the burden on inspectors. “They can be more confident now as they will have a proper force with them on raids. Manpower had been the biggest hurdle to implementing the pure food rules,” he said.

“Now we are focusing on and preparing for Ramazan Bazaars, which will be a big task,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 12^th, 2011.