LAHORE: A meeting presided over by the chief minister on Thursday decided to expand the Punjab Food Authority operations phase wise, initially to eight cities, besides giving approval to the proposed amendments to the PFA Act 2011.

Addressing the meeting, Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said the mafia involved in food adulteration and sale of unhygienic items had to be dealt with an iron hand through collective and coordinated efforts, a handout said.

He directed the PFA to continue indiscriminate crackdown on those preparing and selling unhygienic and substandard food items and should not care for any pressure in this regard.

CM approves amendments to PFA Act 2011

He said the manufacturing and sale of substandard and adulterated items would be declared a non-bailable crime and punishments against such elements would be made more deterrent.

It was decided to initially expand the PFA scope to Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Sargodha, Multan, Bahawalpur, Sialkot and Murree. He also emphasised on the role of food testing labs for eradicating business of adulterated and substandard items. He said that besides expanding the PFA scope, more food testing labs would also be set up.

He said PFA should acquire services of best lawyers for getting those convicted who were selling poison to the people in the name of food. Prosecution department should also play its role in this regard, he added.

He said four task forces had been set up in Punjab for taking action against those involved in preparing and selling substandard, unhygienic and adulterated items. He said a transparent, technology-based system should be evolved to categorise restaurants and hotels.

He lauded the PFA performance, saying the authority should now pay attention to the training and capacity-building of its staff. A comprehensive plan should be evolved with regard to service rules, training, career and capacity-building of PFA staff, he added.

Shahbaz appreciated PFA Operation Director Ayesha Mumtaz for her excellent performance and gave her a shield and souvenir.

Meanwhile, the Punjab Food Authority teams continued sealing eateries and imposing fine on food outlets on Thursday.

According to a press release, a Shalimar Town PFA team sealed Billa Fish corner at Tokaywala Chowk owing to unhygienic conditions, working without licence and the owner’s intervention into the state’s affairs by de-sealing it on its own at the time when the PFA team had earlier sealed it. The team also got a case registered against three persons, including the owner. The police, according to PFA, arrested the nominated persons later.

The team sealed New Shehanshahi Dahi Bhallay in Shadbagh due to unhygienic conditions and working without licence. The same team also imposed a heavy fine on Gourmet Bakers (Shadbagh branch) due to dirty freezers and unlabelled food items. It imposed fine on Hafiz Sweets at Tokaywala Chowk due to unlabelled food products and uncovered food items. Moreover, it sealed Chicken and Burger Point at Shalimar Gol Chakar due to unhygienic conditions, not having licence and selling substandard products. It also sealed Lovely Chargha at the same place due to more or less same reasons. The team sealed Papu General Store due for selling substandard products after it was unlawfully de-sealed by the owners besides offering resistance at the time of sealing. Police later arrested two persons belonging to the restaurants for offering resistance.

The Data Ganj Bakhsh Town team sealed Sardar Siri Pai at Gowalmandi due to unhygienic conditions. It also sealed Butt sweets and bakers in Islampura.

The PFA Ravi Town team sealed Nadeem Tikka on Lajpat Road andRavi Foods on Bund Road.

The last raid on Thursday night was conducted by the Iqbal Town team and it sealed Sher Baba Bar BQ and Family Restaurant at Karim Block, Iqbal Town.

The team led by Ms Ayesha Mumtaz sealed the eatery due to severe unhygienic conditions, pathetic condition of washing area, movement of insects inside kitchen and lack of personal hygiene that was a compulsory point ignored by the restaurant management.

Published in Dawn, July 31st, 2015

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