Safe Food Cities: PFA Checks 2,277 Food Outlets In Pindi

News Desk

Rawalpindi: Punjab Food Authority (PFA) has checked 2277 food business operators (FBOs) in Rawalpindi since it launched the ‘Safe Food Cities’ project to ensure the provision of hygienic food items through daily monitoring and checking.

Commissioner Rawalpindi Division Liaquat Ali Chatta informed that the project was launched on September 1 and would continue by the end of December this year, under which FBOs have been selected from main areas across the city.

It is our responsibility to dispense the residents with clean and healthy food; hence, the quality of food items supplied to the citizens by the FBOs is frequently inspected, Commissioner further said.

Chatta stated that special Terms of Reference (ToRs) should be established for Murree and that the relevant authorities have also been directed to further improve the food checking process in Murree, adding that the restaurant employees’ medical tests would also be performed.

Over 200 food zones have been set up in Rawalpindi district for the Safe Food Zone Project. There are 4614 FBOs in the zones which would be inspected multiple times to ensure the provision of quality food items to the citizens, Liaquat Ali added.

Daily monitoring and checking of all food items, especially milk, yoghurt, and meat, was being ensured under the project, informed Commissioner.

Ali Chatta mentioned that the district administration is making efforts to provide better food commodities to people, and in this regard, it is conducting unexpected inspections at restaurants and grocery stores.

According to Food Department officials, 34 vehicles carrying 155,500 litres of milk were checked on Murree Motorway and Islamabad Toll Plaza during the last 24 hours. Out of these, 26 were passed, while eight vehicles were found to be of substandard milk. Fines amounting to Rs 135,000 were imposed on the rule violators.

The officials also disclosed that over 1932 raids were carried out to examine the food products in September. As many as 1595 notices were issued, while fines amounting to Rs 2.085 million were imposed on the violators. Agencies/APP