Serena hotel’s kitchen sealed

Along with expired products, the team found rusted utensils and inadequate arrangements for drainage in the kitchen

ISLAMABAD: The city administration on Wednesday sealed the kitchen and store of Serena Hotel over noncompliance of food laws.

A team headed by Assistant Commissioner (Secretariat) Waqas Rashid and ICT Administration Deputy Director Food Muhammad Afzal raided the hotel, said a an official.



Afzal told The Express Tribune that expired bakery products were found in the kitchen. Similarly, expired gram flour was found in the hotel’s store — a violation of the Pure Food Ordinance 1960.

He added that a number of waiters were found wearing unwashed clothes and with open wounds. The team also found rusted utensils in the kitchen as well as inadequate arrangements for drainage.

Sources said some influential individuals tried to pressure the admin for not taking action against the hotel. “We will continue taking action [against violators] without [regard to] any pressure as the administration is committed to implement[ing] the law,” Afzal said.



Earlier, the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Administration sealed two hotels for operating under unhygienic conditions.

A spokesperson said that 37 food outlets were fined and notices were issued to 39 hotels, restaurants and bakeries for failing to comply with food safety and hygiene laws.

The unhygienic food outlets were also fined Rs20,000 on the spot, he added. Inspection teams conducted 197 inspections of food outlets last week and issued 39 notices to hotels and bakeries for unhygienic conditions in their kitchens, he informed.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 22^nd, 2015.