Punjab govt at odds with CCI’s uniform food standards

Punjab government maintains that food is a provincial issue

ISLAMABAD: The Council of Common Interest (CCI) has raised objection on the food standards devised by the provinces, including Punjab. In a bid to regulate food standards, CCI has decided that the federal government will establish uniform food standards for the country, which will be implemented across all provinces.

Punjab government on the other hand maintained that food is a provincial issue and termed CCI’s decision unconstitutional and contrary to provincial autonomy inscribed by the 18th amendment. However, in a meeting chaired by Federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry in this regard, the consent of four provincial officers has been taken to constitute a National Food Steering Committee in the next three days.



The committee, which will comprise two members from each province, will examine the food standards set by the Punjab Food Authority (PFA) and the Pakistan Standards and Quality Control (PSQC) and issue the national food standard according to the two.  According to the minutes of the meeting, provincial governments and authorities will be responsible for ensuring implementation of the standards across the country. The committee will also decide on the registration of food items, while food businesses and government departments across the country will be digitalised and a ‘one window system’ will be launched to facilitate the food businesses

The Punjab government, in its official response to CCI’s decision, maintained that under Article 153 of the constitution, the authority cannot formulate a policy in matters relating to food, which is a provincial subject.“ The PFA has been established under the law passed by the provincial assembly. It is the first food authority in the country and all provinces have adopted the rules and standards set by it; considering PFA’s standards are in line with global standards and stem from years of hard work and research. Food is a provincial subject and provinces cannot abandon it. Hence the prerogative of food standards, registration of food products and licensing cannot be granted to PSQC. However, the federal government has the authority to make standards for export items, and Punjab will fully cooperate in this regard.”

In addition to that, the meeting chaired by Federal Minister Fawad Chaudhry in Islamabad this week was attended by the Chairman and DGs of Food Authorities of all four provinces, including Chairman Investment Board Zubair Gilani. As discussed in the meeting, the PFA has made the most effective work on food standards, therefore, the committee will review the food standards of other provinces and PSQC based on the Standards made by PFA and will make recommendation for uniform food standard at national level. However, under the 18th Amendment, provinces will not be abdicate of their powers over food.



Talking to The Express Tribune, Member Assembly and Chairman PFA Omar Tanveer Butt shared that the meeting has clarified that food is a provincial matter, in accordance to the constitution and Punjab has played a key role in terms of food quality. “However, at the request of the federal government, we are willing to create a national level food standard for the convenience of the business community, for which a National Food Steering Committee is being constituted. The Standards made by the PFA will remain the benchmark for this committee and the powers of creating rules and regulations will too rest with the provincial government” he concluded.