RAWALPINDI: The Punjab Food Authority (PFA) has imposed an “Emergency Prohibition Order” on a private beverage factory operating an unregistered carbonated drinks plant in the Rawat Industrial Estate after inspectors detected multiple food safety violations.

According to a spokesman for the PFA, the facility located in Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI), Rawat Industrial Estate, was found to be storing unapproved and unregistered products on the premises.

“The authority also noted that the company produced energy carbonated drinks bore close resemblance to other brands already available in the market,” he said.

“Other violations included lack of an integrated pest management system, stagnant water on premises, presence of junk material, poor handling of raw material, sweeteners used in products not declared on labels, and packing material stored directly on the floor,” he said.

As part of the action, food samples of one unit each of lychee carbonated flavoured drink and apple carbonated flavoured drink were collected for laboratory testing.

Inspection records show the unit was previously marked “temporarily closed/not operational” on December 8, 2025, before being served the Emergency Prohibition Order on June 16.

The PFA stated that production and sale of the products would remain suspended until the unit complied with food safety standards and regulations.

Published in Dawn, June 21st, 2026