TAXILA: The Punjab Food Authority (PFA) on Friday included Attock city in its ‘Safe Food City’ project to ensure provision of hygienic food items through daily monitoring and checking.

In this connection, the Punjab Food Authority Attock carried out the ‘Safe Food City Flag March’ under the supervision of Additional Director Operation Rawalpindi Division Syed Sabtain Kazmi as well as additional deputy commissioner and deputy director (operations) PFA Attock chapter.

The purpose of the flag march was to create awareness about the importance of food safety and educate people about the significance of hygiene in their daily lives and the risks associated with consuming adulterated or contaminated food.

The flag march started from the Punjab Food Authority Office, Sheenbagh, and concluded at Kutchery Chowk after passing through the main business centres, including Eidgah Road, Fawara Chowk, main Bazaar, DC Road, Kamra Road and Church Road.

Flag march held to raise awareness among citizens ofconsuming quality food items

Speaking on the occasion, Additional Director Operation Rawalpindi Division Syed Sabtain Kazmi said food business operators would be given time to bring reforms after checking their businesses.

He said the purpose of launching the ‘Safe Food City’ project was to ensure supply of quality food to consumers, adding that it was hoped that involvement of experienced people would improve the project’s performance.

He said the project would also be replicated in other districts of the province.

Deputy Director Operation Punjab Food Authority Mehtab Ahmed Khan said daily monitoring and checking of all food items, especially milk, yoghurt and meat would be ensured under the project.

Additional Deputy Commissioner Adnan Anjum Raja said the district administration was making efforts to provide better food commodities to people, and in this connection was conducting surprise checks at food outlets and shops.

Mr Raja emphasised on the need to increase efficiency of the Punjab Food Authority in the district and set up a joint effective strategy to solve food-related issues.

Earlier, a conference on importance of Safe Food City project was held at the office of Punjab Food Authority Attock on Friday.

Deputy Director Operations Punjab Food Authority Attock Mehtab Ahmed Khan was in attendance while participants included representatives from the milk, poultry and restaurant associations.

The participants were informed that the aim of the food authority was not to just carry out raids but to ensure availability of quality food to consumers.

They were told that it was the PFA’s commitment to devise strategies to safeguard consumers from adulterated food items.

Published in Dawn, September 16th, 2023