On the directions of Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Punjab Food Authority (PFA) is continuing campaign against those selling poor, unhygienic and adulterated items. CM categorically stated that no leniency will be shown to those playing with human lives by selling substandard edible items. So far PFA conducted raids against more than thousand food units, took action against more than 500 restaurants and issued notices to 284 shopkeepers for improvement of cleanliness. DCOs of all 36 districts of Punjab are also directed to carry out this exercise in their respective districts.
CM appreciated the efforts of PFA team and warranted them his full support to ensure sanitary conditions in restaurants without any discrimination.
It is pertinent to note that the department of Punjab Food Authority was established by Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif in July 2012 under “Punjab Food Authority Act 2011” to ensure availability of safe and wholesome food for human consumption.
To take it one step ahead as a permanent solution to this problem, CM has announced that the restaurants all over Punjab will be graded on the basis of standard of food, security, cleanliness, quality of water etc. and the grades will be displayed at the gates of all the restaurants. Punjab Food Authority in collaboration with CM’s Special Monitoring Unit -SMU has already started working on this project.
A while back
786 Tikka Corner Ghalib Market Gulberg sealed due to poor premises n personnel hygiene issues. No soap for handwashing, dirty drains and poor storage conditions were the major issues.
In Shalimar Town – Fayaz bakery Shair shah road sealed due to poor premises and personal hygiene and Raja foods Shair shah road sealed due to poor premises and personal hygiene.
Similar action was taken by KPK Government in which several Hotels and Fast Food Restaurants were fined and sealed off. However Sindh Government is don’t seem to be worried about food quality and the people.
Images: Courtesy Punjab Food Authority
Note: These are just some of those restaurants fined or sealed so far over unhygienic conditions.