LAHORE: Teams of the provincial food department on Friday conducted a major crackdown on the flour mills across the province to check the quality of flour and wheat. The checking was made at 561 locations and a collective fine of Rs785,000 was imposed on violations.

Punjab Food Minister Bilal Yasin ordered the crackdown, during which samples were taken from 561 mills and then a fine was imposed on those which were selling substandard flour while warning notices were issued to 121 others working in different cities.

Bilal Yasin said that action was taken on the presence of excess moisture in the flour, lack of gluten content and presence of defective ingredients. The Food Minister directed the administration to register cases against those who do not reform despite warnings and fines.

According to the information of all the divisions of Punjab, the Food Department checked 113 places in Lahore Division, 47 places in Gujranwala Division and 53 places in Faisalabad Division. Flour samples were collected from 63 locations in Rawalpindi Division, 41 locations in Gujrat, 52 locations in Sargodha and 45 locations in Multan Division. Similarly, 89 samples from Bahawalpur Division, 31 from DG Khan and 27 from Sahiwal Division were sent to the laboratories for analysis.

Bilal Yasin said that they are following a zero-tolerance policy against food adulterators. He said that ensuring the supply of affordable and quality flour to the people is the top priority of the Punjab government. He directed that all officials of the food department should remain in the field and the quality of wheat and flour should be closely monitored throughout Punjab.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2024