LHC grills PFA over 14-year delay in enforcing law

The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Tuesday expressed serious concern over the Punjab Food Authority's (PFA) failure to implement a key provision of its own governing law — the Punjab Food Authority Act 2011 — even 14 years after its enactment.

During a hearing on a bail petition in a food-related FIR, Justice Ali Zia Bajwa questioned why the PFA had not constituted the mandatory investigation teams composed of food safety officers, as required under the law.

"It has been 14 years since this law was enacted, and yet it has not been implemented. That is astonishing," remarked Justice Bajwa. He directly asked the Director General of the PFA why the provision had never been operationalized.

The DG PFA failed to offer a satisfactory explanation, telling the court that although the law was drafted in accordance with European standards, it could not be implemented due to practical limitations.

The department's law officer added that a shortage of food safety officers had prevented the formation of investigation teams. "If we constitute these teams, it would affect other critical operations of the department," he argued.

Unimpressed with the justification, Justice Bajwa observed, "You are practically lifting your hands in helplessness. You admit you lack the capacity to implement the very law you are bound to enforce."

Justice Bajwa further questioned the rationale behind passing such a law if its implementation was never feasible. "We will seek a response from the Chief Minister Punjab regarding this situation. Why was this act enacted if it could not be enforced in over a decade?"

The court adjourned proceedings while seeking a comprehensive explanation from the provincial government.