The Punjab Food Authority (PFA) enforcement teams during the month of October 2018 conducted as many as 43,689 general inspection visits to food businesses across Punjab and shut down 747 sites due to multiple violations of food safety standards. As well as, PFA served 25,000 improvement notices on minor issues and thousands of food business operators penalized with heavy fine tickets.
This was disclosed at a monthly meeting of the Authority here on Saturday to review the performance of the last month. Director General PFA Captain Muhammad Usman (retd) presided over the meeting while PFA Additional Director General (Operations) Rafia Haider presented the performance report.
Muhammad Usman appreciated enforcement teams and concerned wing's heads for successfully rooting out the menace of adulteration and punished violators over not compliance with the authority's instructions in Punjab.
He said that PFA is effectively achieving all the targets set for the Year 2018 and future so as to meet the dream of modernizing food safety laws and standards.
Breakdown of the region wise statistics show that the PFA raided 12,868 food points and closed down 232 shops in Central Lahore Zone. Further, PFA conducted 17,085 raids in North Rawalpindi Zone and shut 217 outlets. In South Multan Zone, food safety teams visited 6020 food outlets for inspecting the quality of food and food safety measures in October. Out of 6020, 94 food businesses were sealed by PFA over failed to maintain the food safety standards. Similarly, PFA checked 4264 food joints in South Muzaffargarh and sealed111 food businesses.
Moreover, DG Food Authority said that PFA conducted 41,132 raids among 742 sealed and issued fine tickets to 2415 food business operators in month of September.
He informed that PFA has registered 31 FIRs in September and 52 cases registered in October in the respective area police station. He said that the action was taken against hotels, restaurants, production units, canteens, sweets and bakers and other food points.
The purpose of sealing and imposing of a fine is to reforms of food business operators. He said that citizens can register their complaints and suggestions on PFA's websites, complaint cell, and its Facebook page, while complaint will immediately be addressed.
PFA is utilizing all available resource in order to improve the hygiene issues and situation in Punjab, he added.
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