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LAHORE, Jul 09 (APP):The Punjab Food Authority (PFA) has declared food adulteration and forgery as non-bailable offences across Punjab, marking a decisive step in safeguarding public health.
Preparations are underway to implement new legislation proposing up to five years of imprisonment and fines reaching Rs. 10 million.
This announcement was made by PFA Director General Muhammad Asim Javaid during a press briefing held at the PFA Headquarters here on Wednesday. He said that with the enforcement of the proposed law, the eradication of food adulteration would become a realistic and achievable goal.
The DG revealed that enforcement actions had surged by 158 percent, with a 24 percent increase in registered cases compared to previous years. In total, 1,235,741 food points were inspected across the province, leading to the registration of 1,344 FIRs. More than 119,000 violators were fined, with penalties amounting to Rs. 1.52 billion, while 3,300 units were sealed during various operations.
During the campaign, PFA discarded 686,000 kilograms of meat, 142,000 litres of oil, and 117,000 litres of substandard beverages. A record rise in milk checking activities was also reported, with 1.624 million litres of substandard milk being discarded. Asim Javaid noted that 75 percent of milk available in Punjab now meets safety standards, and the volume of milk disposal has decreased fourfold compared to previous years.
As part of its broader food safety initiatives, PFA conducted medical screenings for food handlers at 2,942 food carts, mobile trucks, and roadside stalls. Under the School Nutrition Program, 10,786 students received free lunch boxes for two months. Plans are in place to expand this program to 50 more schools, alongside the accelerated rollout of the Eat Safe campaign.
The Director General also highlighted the launch of several new initiatives, including the Eat Safe Women and Kids Campaigns, an Electronic Learning Management System, a Milk Traceability Program, a Meat Safety Task Force, a Paperless Inspection System, and a Business Facilitation Center to ease regulatory compliance for food businesses.
DG Asim Javaid added that the PFA is fully committed to ensuring the availability of safe and quality food in line with the vision of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif. He urged the public to support PFA’s efforts and report violations via the Authority’s helpline 1223.