LAHORE: The Punjab government has stopped the Punjab Food Authority (PFA) in Lahore and district coordination officers of 35 other districts from checking the quality of raw and retail milk till Sunday (tomorrow).

Lahore Commissioner Abdullah Sumbal told Dawn on Friday the milk checking would be resumed after Sunday as by that time a mechanism would be prepared by government officials in consultation with representatives of milk suppliers.

On Thursday, hundreds of milk sellers protested in Lahore and suspended supplies in protest at, what they say, highhandedness of PFA officials and unjustified milk checking procedures.

The commissioner said they had agreed with milk suppliers’ representatives that their demand for an effective milk checking procedure would be framed.

He said the PFA teams had enough capacity to check adulteration in milk and take evidence-based action against the adulterates.

“Also, the officials taking similar actions in 35 other districts are also professionally good but they are not as trained as PFA teams,” he said.

“We have evidence of adulteration in milk but milk suppliers call the action unjustified. So, we have to find out a solution to the issue.”

He said the committee would examine the existing milk checking system, professional competency of the checkers and alleged methods of adulteration being adopted by milk sellers. He did not explain the existing checking system.

Milk suppliers allege the officials declare their milk gallons adulterated only because of a little quantity of water and ice in the milk.

The commissioner agreed that though a little quantity of water in the milk did not make it unhygienic but a basic mechanism to check the supplies should be put in place.

He said a meeting between the committee and milk sellers would be held on Saturday (today) to discuss checking modalities.

DPS: The divisional administration on Friday announced that position holders in the matriculation examinations of the Divisional Public School (DPS) would be taken to a recreational trip to Murree and Bhurban.

It was announced by the DPS board of trustees (Lahore commissioner) at the awards distribution ceremony. All top positions in the matriculation examination of the Lahore board have been secured by the DPS candidates.

Published in Dawn, August 29th, 2015

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