CM credits Imran, COAS for Pakistan’s exit from FATF grey-list

Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi said on Saturday Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa played his vigorous role in getting Pakistan out of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) list.

The CM expressed these views while inaugurating mobile food testing lab squad aimed to improve food security in the province.

He was of the view that Imran Khan and General Qamar Javed Bajwa were the real heroes of this success.

“It is a great victory of the whole nation. All the credit of this success goes to Imran Khan and his team.”

He said the role of so-called government of the PDM in getting out of grey list is the same which a 12th man has in a cricket match.

He said Pakistan was put into the grey list during the tenure of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).

Addressing the mobile food testing lab squad inauguration ceremony, the CM highlighted that the new squad, comprising of 55 vehicles including motorcycles, would enable the provincial food regulator to conduct on spot testing of food products.

In the first phase, the mobile food testing units would be deployed in Sargodha, Multan, Gujranwala, Sahiwal and Faisalabad and the facility would be extended to other parts of the province.

The initiative would help in improving quality of food products as these mobile food testing units would be capable of testing milk, spices, carbonated drinks, water, ghee, edible oil and other items.

The chief minister underlined that mobile food testing facility would help reining in adulteration as food safety officers would promptly check quality of the food products and take necessary legal actions as per the law.

He pointed out that over 200 diseases could be caused owing to contaminated and sub-standard food products. There is a dire need of raise awareness about food safety.

The latest food testing equipment is necessary for proper implementation of the food safety rules.

Punjab Minister for Food Husnain Jehania Gerdazi and senior officials of the Punjab Food Authority (PFA) and other departments concerned were also present on the occasion.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 23^rd, 2022.