PESHAWAR: The director general of Food Safety and Halal Food Authority, Shah Rukh Ali Khan, has said that a state-of-the-art food analysis laboratory is being established in Peshawar at a cost of Rs141.69 million.

In addition to the static laboratory, two mobile food analysis laboratories would also be established at a cost of Rs52 million at divisional level, said a statement issued here on Monday.

Briefing journalists, Shah Rukh Ali Khan said the Authority deputed staff and provided the required equipment to the Food Analysis Laboratory Hayatabad.

The laboratory would be upgraded to state-of-the-art level with procurement of additional high-tech machines. He said that the laboratory would help the Authority in eradication of food adulteration and provision of safe and healthy food to the public.

He said that the Authority initially started its work in seven divisional headquarters of the province an later it was extended to 15 more districts where food safety teams were ensuring provision of quality food to people through various interventions.

Mr Khan stressed the need for training of food handlers. He said that the Authority would soon establish a training school in Peshawar in the next phase.

He added that such schools would be also established in other parts of the province.

To stop the spread of communicable diseases through food outlets, the Authority was establishing a central medical screening laboratory in Peshawar, he said.

He added that such laboratories would be established at divisional level in the next phase.

The official said that in November 2020, the Authority started geo-tagging of food businesses in the province.

He said that geo-tagging of food businesses would help the Authority in improving field inspections and timely resolution of public complaints.

He said that training was also arranged for food handlers. During the first two months of the current year, 552 food handlers were trained, he said.

He added that 241 awareness sessions on food safety at public places were also conducted. He said that during the last two months, 23,625 food-related businesses were inspected in the province.

Published in Dawn, March 16th, 2021