PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Food Safety and Halal Food Authority on Friday carried out a province-wide one-day special inspection and testing campaign to check the use of substandard cooking oil.

The campaign was carried out on the directives of the government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa under its Ramazan plan. According to the spokesperson, the drive was carried out in collaboration with district administrations across the province. Inspections were conducted at hotels, kebab shops, samosa and pakora outlets, street food points and other businesses involved in preparing fried food items.

Mobile food testing laboratories were deployed to conduct on-the-spot testing of used cooking oil. A total of 165 samples were examined, of which 140 were declared fit for consumption, while 25 samples were found to be substandard and unsafe. Consequently, 1,590 litres of substandard and hazardous cooking oil was discarded on the spot.

The authority also imposed heavy fines on violators and issued warning notices to several food outlets for non-compliance with food safety standards.

District-wise action included disposal of 260 litres in Peshawar, 229 litres in Swat, 222 litres in Mansehra, 141 litres in Nowshera, 117 litres in Haripur, 114 litres in Lower Dir, 99 litres in Swabi, 95 litres in Malakand, 57 litres in Khyber, 53 litres in Karak, 42 litres in Mardan, 34 litres in Charsadda, 33 litres in Kohat, 32 litres in Abbottabad, 30 litres in D.I. Khan, 24 litres in Lower Chitral and 8 litres in Bannu.

Director General (DG), Kashif Iqbal Jilani stated that provision of safe and quality food to the public remains the top priority in line with the vision of the provincial government.

He reaffirmed that indiscriminate action against adulteration and food safety violations will continue throughout Ramazan.

Published in Dawn, February 28th, 2026