Task force on food quality constituted

FAISALABAD:

A task force was constituted on Saturday to check food adulteration in Faisalabad division.

According to a notification issued by the food secretary, Provincial Assembly Member (MPA) Haji Khalid Saeed was appointed chairman of the task force.

The notification said the Faisalabad commissioner was named secretary of the task force. Other members included MPAs Rao Kashif Rahim Khan, Mian Muhammad Rafique, Khurram Abbas Sial, Imtiaz Ahmad Lali, the RPO, the DCOs, SSP (Special Branch), the health services director, the Food Department deputy director, the agriculture EDO and the food technologist.

They would be notified by the secretary of task force with consultation of the chairman.

The first meeting of the task force was held at the Commissioner’s Office. MPA Haji Khalid Saeed presided over it.

Saeed said the Punjab government was taking steps to curb food adulteration. He said the task force had been constituted under directions of the chief minister to monitor food businesses.  He said those playing with lives of thousands of people would be dealt with an iron hand.

“We have been empowered by the law to eradicate food adulteration,” he said. He said the relevant departments should utilise their resources to ensure success of the campaign.

Commissioner Nasim Nawaz said inspection of milk, cooking oil and water for quality standards was essential.

He said hygiene standards should be maintained at processing units, hotels and restaurants.

MPAs Rao Kashif Rahim, Mian Muhammad Rafique and Khurram Abbas Sial urged citizens to report hotels where cleanliness standards were not being maintained.

They said ensuring food quality was a social responsibility. .

Published in The Express Tribune, August 23^rd, 2015.