KARACHI: The Public Accounts Committee of the Sindh Assembly on Wednesday directed the Sindh Food Authority (SFA) to inspect the quality of food being served in canteens and messes of all public and private universities across the province and submit a report within two months.

The directive was issued during a committee meeting held in the committee room and chaired by Nisar Ahmed Khuhro to review audit paras of the Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences (LUMHS), Jamshoro.

Committee members Qasim Siraj Soomro, Makhdoom Fakhar-uz-Zaman, Vice Chancellor LUMHS Prof Dr Ikramuddin Ujjan and other concerned officials attended the meeting.

When the PAC chairman inquired about the number of hostels in LUMHS during scrutiny of the audit objections, the vice chancellor informed that the university had eight hostels for male and female students with a capacity of 250 students each.

Mr Khuhro then asked about the food provided to them and how the university mess and canteens monitored its quality. The VC replied that food quality was checked by the Sindh Food Authority (SFA).

The chairman observed that if the quality of food in the university canteens and messes was up to standard, the administration should produce a certification from the food authority.

The committee subsequently ordered the SFA to conduct quality checks in canteens and messes of all public and private universities in Sindh and submit a compliance report in two months.

The meeting also took up an audit objection regarding unauthorised occupation of 69 bungalows and quarters belonging to LUMHS.

The vice chancellor informed the committee that 32 houses and quarters were occupied by authorised employees and staff of LUMHS Hospital and monthly rent was being collected from them.

He said that 12 houses had been occupied by retired and other employees who had obtained a stay order from the Sindh High Court, and the case had been pending for the last three years, while the district administration had been approached to get the remaining quarters vacated.

The PAC directed the Jamshoro deputy commissioner and SSP to get the university houses and quarters vacated from unauthorised occupants.

Published in Dawn, October 1st, 2026