MUZAFFARABAD: Acting on the full court verdict of the Supreme Court of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), the Livestock and Dairy Development Department and the Food Authority have launched a crackdown across the capital against substandard and hazardous food items, sealing several premises and seizing a vehicle involved in the illegal transportation of meat.

Magistrate Municipal Corporation Muzaffarabad Sardar Imran Khan, accompanied by veterinary officers and field staff, conducted raids in various localities of the city, resulting in the sealing of four shops and a large warehouse.

During the raids, veterinary teams examined meat and frozen food for hygiene, temperature control, labelling and legal compliance. Officials said the inspections revealed the sale of carrion cow and buffalo meat under the guise of beef, along with the use of counterfeit packaging of well-known frozen food brands — practices described as a blatant violation of Supreme Court orders and food safety laws.

Under the Supreme Court’s full court judgement, veterinary doctors and meat inspectors have been directed to conduct daily inspections of slaughterhouses, shops, markets and meat and frozen food during transportation at district and tehsil levels.

Mr Khan said that in line with the court’s directions, the seized items were declared substandard and hazardous, after which the premises were sealed.

He added that frozen food items found at temperatures above minus 19 degrees Celsius were liable to confiscation and destruction, with detailed reports of each action submitted to the court through the concerned magistrate.

Separately, the Food Authority seized a vehicle involved in the illegal transportation of meat and registered a case at Chhattar Klas police station. During a checking operation, the authority intercepted a vehicle registered in Rawalpindi and recovered substandard and illegally transported meat, in violation of the Food Authority Act 2017 and the Pure Food Regulations 2019.

District Food Controller Muzaffarabad Ibrar Ahmed Mir said the transportation of such meat had already been banned, yet the laws were violated, posing a serious threat to public health. The vehicle was taken into custody and legal proceedings were initiated against those responsible, he added.

Mr Mir said there would be zero tolerance for illegal and substandard food businesses, adding that the crackdown would continue without interruption.

“It is the foremost responsibility of all concerned authorities to ensure the supply of safe, hygienic and quality milk and meat to the public, and no negligence or pressure will be tolerated following the Supreme Court’s decision,” he said.

Published in Dawn, January 30th, 2026