The Punjab Food Authority (PFA) on Sunday launched an inspection operation against bigwigs of wedding halls in the provincial metropolis and sealed three while punished 20 with hefty fines besides serving improvement notices to 15 halls.

The operation was carried out in the area of Gulshan Ravi, Garden Town, Barkat Market, Ferozpur Road, Liberty and Gulberg. Meanwhile, PFA Director General Irfan Memon had led the whole operation and took indiscriminate action against food business operators. The teams have thoroughly examined kitchens, production areas, warehouses and other sections of the halls.

According to details, PFA watchdog teams have shut down Prince Hall in Garden Town, Millan Marriage Hall in Gulshan Ravi and Shadmani Banquet Hall in Gulberg. Irfan Memon said that that the authority sealed all wedding halls for using expired meat, rotten vegetables and loose adulterated spices in the preparation of food dishes. Further, teams have witnessed the presence of stale food, washroom in the kitchen area, an abundance of insects and the worst condition of hygiene.

He further said that food authority has imposed fine on Gracious Banquet Hall, Topaz Event Complex, Zafar Cooking and Food Supply, Liberty Castle Banquet Hall, Taj Mahal, Empire Signature Marquee, Aiwan-e-Akbari Marriage Hall, Dream Palace, Qasar-e-Ameer, Marwa Banquet Hall, Course Event and Waiting, Noor Jahan Banquet Hall, Sapphire Hall, Gourmet Kitchen, New Chandni Hall, Gulshan Banquet and Topaz Marque. The PFA issued warnings to 15 wedding halls, asking them to improve hygiene conditions, he added.

Irfan Memon further said that Punjab Food Authority is also devising a system to dispose of leftover food of wedding halls daily. Excess/leftover food will be delivered to deserving people rather than stored or wasted, he added.