Punjab Food Authority (PFA) has opened new avenues of businesses regarding processing and packaging industry by clamping complete ban on the sale of loose eatables including spices, pulses, oil and other items in Punjab, said Noor-ul-Amin Mangal Director General Punjab Food Authority.
Addressing the members of the Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (FCCI), he said that the sub-standard and adulterated food items had added unbearable health burden on provincial kitty and Government has to spend a huge amount of Rs 300 billion per annum on extending medical related facilities to the needy segments of the society. He said that approximately the same amount is being spent by the people on their treatment. Thus in total, it has become a huge amount that needs immediate rectification in our system of eatables.
He said that it is due to the adulteration in food items that young people of the productive age are falling prey to the heart related diseases. He said that 90 percent diseases are directly caused by the adulterated food items. "Amongst these most common is malnutrition of children and women", he said and added that stunted growth has also been identified as major cause of malnutrition.
He told that he had taken over the charge of Director General PFA just a year ago and during this period necessary spade work has been completed ahead of the given targets. "We have recruited 2000 Food Safety Officers," he said and added that this task was to be completed by the end of this year but we have completed it on 14 August this year. "We have also raised a strong fleet of 300 vehicles that is helping in regular checking, surveillance and enforcement of related laws on all spectrums of food items.
He said that our efforts have elevated the image of Punjab Food Authority which is now being recognized at the international level because of its excellent performance. He claimed that probably PFA is the second institution in Pakistan after Motorway Police that is acknowledged internationally and at national level because of its efficiency and corruption free practices.
He said that PFA has 10 Directorates and we are utilizing all available resources to give the message of PFA to each and every individual through print, electronic and social media. He told that PFA has enacted 16 bills which would help purge the business of eatables from adulteration. He said that we had two models to implement our rules and regulations but we have decided to adopt "top to bottom" model.
"We have produced a lot of educated food business operators which will be deputed in all important eateries, out-lets, and shops etc to exploit their knowledge and skills to revamp the entire food chain hygienically with their strict supervision," he added.
He told that PFA has taken proactive steps to encourage fortified flour, oil and salt to overcome the issue of malnutrition. He clarified that the objectives of PFA is not to discourage the healthy economic activities but we want to re-organize the food industry on well defined scientific lines by strictly adhering to the globally recognized standards.
Quoting, the abundance use of junk food, he said that many imported items were promoted as high nourishing items but actually these had no such beneficial ingredients. PFA took up this issue and forced the manufacturers of margarine, so called energy drinks and frozen desserts to clearly print on these wrappers hat that these items are not milk, fruit juices, cheese, ice cream or butter.
"This step will certainly discourage the import of unhealthy and so called food items," he said and added that in return this action will support our own livestock and agriculture sector to capture the domestic food market in addition to paving way for the export of their original products.
Continuing Noor-ul-Amin said that all these issues will be fully streamlined within the next few years. Later we will have to switch over to the education and awareness of the masses about the selection of their food items purely on scientific manners.
Regarding colouring of red-chilli and pulses, he said that the colours used for this purpose are carcinogenic in nature and hence their use in food items is completely prohibited. He further told that after the ban on the sale of loose spices, pulses and other items, the sale of open milk will also be banned which will help in promotion of packaged food industry.
He said that no doubt, it will be difficult for the small farmers rearing milk animals to set up their own chillers, pasteurizing and packing plants, hence he has prepared a cooperative model for the small farmers to facilitate them. Similarly, a Punjab level association of big cattle farmers will also be encouraged to protect their fundamental business interests. He said that steps taken by PFA will bring a qualitative improvement in the health of the young generation which will also lessen burden on the public sector hospitals.
Responding to a question, he said that the process of the issuance of food licenses will be outsourced and in this connection, a first batch of 120 food licenses consultants will be passed out on 30th December, 2017. "We have also recruited 125 interns for the second batch that will provide consultancy services to the food industries throughout Pakistan," he added.
Earlier in his Address of Welcome, Shabbir Hussain Chawla appreciated the various steps taken by the PFA and demanded that FCCI should be given due representation in the newly created Punjab Food Board. He said that PFA should also prepare a comprehensive SOP of food safety that should be publicized widely for the awareness of the concerned quarters.
President FCCI also demanded that food testing labs must be created at tehsil level for the expeditious testing of the food samples at the local level in addition to mobile testing laboratories. He said that PFA should also issue certificates to the hygienically fit food items which are up to the international standards.
He said that FCCI representative should also be included in the various raiding parties to discourage the fake raids or exploitation of these raids in the name of harassment. He said that currently most of the eatables are sold by the cart-driven vendors. "A SOP for them should also be chalked out so that they could be regulated for the sale of pure food items," he added Vice President Usman Rauf and Zia Alamdar Hussain, Haji Aslam Bhalli, Khawaja Asem Khurshid, Chaudhary Muhammad Boota and Rana Javed participated in the Question Answer Session while SVP Farood Yousaf offered vote of thanks.
He hoped that local Deputy Director of PFA will remain in touch with FCCI to resolve the issues of our members on top priority basis. Later vice president Usman Rauf presented FCCI shield to Noor-ul-Amin Mangal, DG Punjab Food Authority.