The Lahore Restaurants Association (LRA), in its reaction to the drive of the Punjab Food Authority (PFA), has made at least one thing clear that the authority will have to take it into confidence regarding the ongoing drive against hotels, eateries and food outlets.

While the PFA continues sealing and imposing fine on restaurants over cleanliness and food hygiene issues the LRA has decided to resist the food authority’s action. It has announced holding a protest on Tuesday (today) besides challenging the PFA drive in the court.

Though the PFA and law and prosecution departments have almost finalised a draft to amend the food laws in order to simplify the rules ‘according to culture and environment of Lahore’, the question arises whether the LRA will wait for the government to get the amendments approved.

Under the proposed amendments, according to the PFA, there would be four components under which the field teams would inspect the restaurants, eateries, etc. They are: staff hygiene, premises cleanliness, kitchen cleanliness and quality and quantity of food. Besides, the PFA teams are also applying good hygiene practices and parameters under the ISO-22000. There is also a public perception that if these rules are simplified, the cleanliness and hygiene issues at restaurants may be compromised.

Protest against the food authority’s drive today

“We don’t like the style of inspection being carried out by the PFA. It seems the field teams are trying to harass us rather than improving things,” LRA Secretary General Ahmad Shafique told Dawn.

He said whatever was being done by the PFA seemed to be a bid to close the restaurant/hotel sector, particularly in Lahore.

“We want the PFA to listen to us. But its senior officials say that sealing of restaurants was the best option to address the issues. We think this will lead to closure of our businesses,” he said, adding the LRA would not only stage a protest demonstration on Tuesday but also move the court, as well. If the PFA continued carrying out this drive in such style, the LRA would expand its protests across the province, he said, adding that the best option to deal with the issues was to take the LRA into confidence.

Talking to Dawn, PFA Director General Dr Sajid Chauhan said the authority had a plan to hold seminars in Lahore.

“In these seminars, all the restaurant and eateries owners would be invited to express their reservations and give suggestions. We will help them in improving things but we will not compromise hygiene standards,” he explained.

Dr Chauhan dispelled the impression that simplifying rules would be like compromising on cleanliness, health and hygiene standards during inspections, saying the government wanted to see such issues addressed according to our culture, traditions and environment.

“Such exercises are also done in developed countries. That’s why we want a simple and tailor-made mechanism to not only inspect food and premises well but also avoid any action that may lead to closure of the food businesses,” he explained.

Last week, the Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) reviewed progress on the butterfly house project at Jallo Park.

According to officials, the PHA desires to inaugurate the project by next month’s end at any cost. During the meeting, the senior officials advised the project management to complete the task before August 20.

The butterfly house is being developed at Jallo where a huge hall has been constructed.

“The hall has a transparent ceiling/roof that has been designed especially for creating a natural environment for breeding and movement of 100 kinds of butterflies, including 60 of local species,” a PHA official said. He said a number of supporting plants, fountains and small lake had also been established. The hall is air-conditioned as it is the basic requirement for the environment liked by butterflies. He said the project would be opened for public soon after inauguration. — (khalidpak284@yahoo.com)

Published in Dawn, July 28th, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play