Various violations: High-end eateries face the music

Admin seals various premises along with fines; cases registered

ISLAMABAD: Quality control teams of the city administration on Friday decided to check hygiene conditions at relatively high-end eateries and hotels in Islamabad.

The teams took action, including lodging of FIRs, after it found violations of basic health and hygienic safety measures at the respective kitchens.

A food inspection team headed by additional deputy commissioner Abus Sattar Esani — the overall in-charge of the ongoing anti adulteration campaign — sealed kitchens and food cooking premises of Marriot Hotel, Islamabad Hotel, Des Pardes at Saidpur Village and Pappasalis besides others.

“Some seven inspection teams collectively inspected 68 food outlets and food process factories,” Esani told The Express Tribune.

“14 of the inspected sites are sealed while fines amounting to Rs783,068 were imposed on violators,” he shared, adding that nine FIRs were registered with respective police stations, while 32 food adulterators were arrested on the spot.

Moreover, a major food processing factory located over 13 acres at Chak Shahzad — Salman Corporation (manufacturers of Salman jams, juices and honey) — was also sealed.

“Violations include lack of expiry dates on raw material, unhygienic processing unit with rusted plant/machinery, carbon accumulated on lights, wires and rusted equipment, inadequate ventilation, no security arrangements, CCTVs or concertina wires around the premises, unguarded multiple entries, and no waste disposal system,” said an official statement.

FIRs were reportedly registered under the Pure Food Ordinance, Price Control Act and sections 269 to 273 of the Pakistan Penal Code.

In Rawat, three godowns of bakeries — Al Kausar Bakers, Makka Sweets and Hamza Sweets — were sealed, besides two meat shops and a number of other small food outlets. A total of 200kg of adulterated meat was also disposed of after confiscation.

In Sector G-9, officials raided Tehzeeb Bakers and Shikarpuri sweets, and fined them and fined Rs100,000 each. Additionally, Bismillah Hotel in Sector F-8 was fined Rs50,000 and Darbar Hotel in G-9 Rs5,000.

The statement said food factories were also violating labour laws by employing underage children and providing low wages in violation of the official standard.

“Law will take its course with zero tolerance against all such mafias risking public health,” Esani said in the statement.

PFA trains ICT staff

A training session was held for district administration officials in relation to the ongoing campaign against adulterated and unhygienic food outlets in the capital.

Officers of the Punjab Food Authority (PFA) headed by PFA Director-General Dr Sajid Mahmood Chohan visited the office of the Islamabad Chief Commissioner and conducted the session in order to make the campaign more effective.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 12^th, 2015.