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ISLAMABAD, Oct 27 (APP):The Islamabad Food Authority (IFA) teams inspected over 10,000 litres of milk during an early morning operation in the federal capital on Monday, discarding 2,340 litres found adulterated and imposing fines worth Rs118,000 for violations.
Talking to APP, Deputy Director Operations of IFA, Dr Tahira Siddique said that the officials checked 20 milk-carrying vehicles to ensure the supply of safe and nutritious milk to the public. Of these, 17 vehicles cleared the inspection while samples from three failed quality tests.
According to IFA Deputy Director Dr. Tahira Siddique, the inspection drive was carried out under the direction of the Authority’s Director, following reports of substandard milk being transported into the city.
The checking point was set up at Metro Station No. 26 on the N-5 route, where milk vehicles arriving from nearby areas were intercepted for testing.
“During the operation, 10,890 litres of milk were checked. Out of this, 2,340 litres were found to be adulterated and were immediately discarded,” Dr. Siddique said.
“The inspection team found signs of contamination and poor quality in the samples that failed the laboratory tests.”
She added that fines amounting to Rs118,000 were imposed on violators for breaching food safety standards and supplying low-quality milk.
Dr. Siddique said the Authority has adopted a zero-tolerance policy towards milk adulteration and quality violations. “Any negligence in the supply of safe and nutritious milk will not be tolerated,” she stated, emphasizing that milk is a basic part of daily consumption, particularly for children and elderly people.
She warned that adulterated milk can lead to various health issues, especially in vulnerable groups. “The use of contaminated milk may cause multiple diseases in children and older citizens. Ensuring the purity and safety of milk is essential for public health,” she said.
The Deputy Director explained that such operations are conducted regularly to maintain the supply chain’s hygiene and discourage the use of harmful substances in milk production.
The Authority’s teams collect random samples from tankers, distribution points, and local dairy outlets to verify that the milk meets the prescribed standards.
She said that strict monitoring will continue across all entry routes of Islamabad to stop the inflow of low-quality or contaminated milk. “We have strengthened surveillance and coordination with law enforcement agencies to ensure that only quality-tested milk reaches the consumers,” she said.
The IFA has also urged dairy suppliers and distributors to maintain proper hygiene during transportation and storage. Officials reminded them that temperature control and clean containers are vital to prevent contamination.
Dr. Siddique reaffirmed that IFA’s top priority is to guarantee access to safe, nutritious, and hygienic milk for all residents of Islamabad. “We are committed to maintaining strict oversight to eliminate adulteration from the milk supply chain,” she said.