PESHAWAR, Feb 22 (APP): Under the Ramazan Plan, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Food Authority (KPFA) has intensified operations across the province to ensure the provision of safe and quality food to the public.
Under the supervision of Director General Kashif Iqbal Jilani and Director Operations Muhammad Yousaf, food safety teams carried out inspections in Peshawar, Nowshera, Dera Ismail Khan and Malakand, sealing multiple outlets and imposing heavy fines for violations of hygiene and food safety standards.
According to the spokesperson, on a public holiday, the Peshawar Food Safety Team, led by the Director General, conducted surprise inspections at various food points on University Road. Milk, meat, bakery items and other food products were thoroughly examined. A bakery outlet was sealed on the spot due to extremely poor hygiene conditions and serious violations of food safety regulations.
During the same operation, the canteen of Khyber Teaching Hospital was also inspected, where a heavy fine was imposed for non-compliance with prescribed SOPs.
In Nowshera, the Food Safety Team conducted an operation in the Hakim Abad area and recovered 30 dead chickens from a shop. The outlet was sealed, a fine was imposed and further legal proceedings have been initiated.
Similarly, in Dera Ismail Khan, a joint checkpoint was established at Bhakkar Pull in collaboration with the district administration. Vehicles supplying milk and meat were checked. The Mobile Food Testing Lab conducted on-the-spot testing of milk and meat samples. Heavy fines were imposed after water adulteration in milk was confirmed, while warning notices were issued over other SOP violations.
In District Malakand, the food safety team inspected milk shops, grocery stores and major marts in Dargai Bazaar. A total of 55 litres of substandard milk were recovered from a milk seller and disposed of on the spot, followed by imposition of a fine.
Director General Kashif Iqbal Jilani has stated that indiscriminate operations against adulterated and unsafe food items will continue across the province. He added that special inspections are being carried out during Iftar hours, while snap checking of supply vehicles is being ensured at entry points during Sehri.
He appealed to the public to immediately report businesses involved in the sale of substandard or hazardous food through the KP Food Authority’s toll-free number 0800-37432 or WhatsApp number 0345-1009348 to ensure timely action.