PFA forgoes training fee for small businesses

Move was undertaken to help owners sustain business, increase hygiene

LAHORE:

In a bid to provide relief to the businessmen community, the Punjab Food Authority (PFA) abolished the training fee for small-scale businesses. A spokesperson for the authority said on Monday that PFA Director General (DG) Rafaqat Ali Naswana chaired a meeting with the training school administration and decided to waive off training fee for small businesses including tandoors and kiosks. PFA DG Rafaqat Ali Naswana said that the authority would provide free training to vendors, hawkers and other small business owners, adding that for small businesses per head training fee was Rs1,160. He highlighted that the purpose of abolishing the fee was to help small food businesses in overcoming their financial difficulties, and educating them about their personal hygiene and PFA laws. The director general maintained that the purpose of establishing PFA was to reform and regulate food businesses in the region. “A large number of people buy food items on a daily basis from the carts and roadside vendors, therefore it is essential that they ensure proper levels of hygiene and safety.” Speaking on the occasion, he vowed to provide full support to small business owners to help uplift them at the grass root level. Moreover, he warned the business owners of strict action for flouting SOPs and encouraged them to follow the rules and laws.