AJK PM directs food authority to crack down on adulteration, substandard food

Says ensuring safe, quality and hygienic food is a fundamental responsibility of the government

MUZAFFRABAD:

Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Prime Minister Iftikhar Gilani on Wednesday ordered the AJK Food Authority to end paper-based inspections and launch visible field action against adulteration and the sale of substandard and hazardous food, warning that those playing with public health would face action under the law.

Directing authorities to intensify inspections of markets, shops, hotels, restaurants, bakeries, milk outlets and other food businesses, the prime minister said the AJK Food Authority must be judged by its action in the field, not by files and paperwork in offices.

“Public health cannot be compromised,” Gilani said while addressing a meeting of the Food Department, directing officials to make the inspection and monitoring mechanism effective, regular and result-oriented.

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He ordered indiscriminate legal action against those involved in food adulteration, selling unsafe or substandard food, or violating hygiene standards, while stressing that enforcement must remain strictly within the law and should not become a source of unjustified harassment for traders and business owners.

“The existence of the Food Authority should not be limited to files and formalities. Its action and results must be visible in the field,” Gilani said.

He directed the authorities to strengthen field monitoring and introduce regular inspections across commercial centres, making it clear that violations should trigger immediate action rather than routine paperwork.

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Seeking to overhaul the food safety regime in AJK, he also ordered officials to draw on the experience and technical support of the Punjab Food Authority, besides enhancing the capacity of the AJK Food Authority and providing modern inspection and monitoring facilities.

The prime minister said ensuring safe, quality and hygienic food was a fundamental responsibility of the government, adding that every possible step would be taken to protect consumers from adulterated and hazardous food.

AJK Food Authority Director General Abdul Hameed Kiani briefed the meeting on the department's performance, existing inspection mechanism, field monitoring and future strategy.

Principal Secretary Sardar Adnan Khurshid, Food Secretary Shahid Ayub and other relevant officials attended the meeting.