Fake milk mafias busted in Lahore, 1,650-litre seized, 3 FIRs registered

LAHORE, Jan 10 (APP):The Punjab Food Authority (PFA) has conducted three major enforcement operations in different areas of Lahore and busted two fake milk manufacturing units along with a supplier, seizing large quantities of adulterated material and arresting three accused.

According to a PFA spokesperson, food safety teams recovered and destroyed 1,650 litres of adulterated milk, 500 litres of thick premixed solution, 20 ghee containers, and 10 drums, while registering three FIRs against the accused. The enforcement teams also seized 128 kilograms of vegetable ghee, weighing machines, gas cylinders, mixing machines, chemical powders, and a rickshaw used by a supplier to distribute the adulterated milk door-to-door.

The operations were carried out in Badami Bagh, Kareem Road and Sodiwal Road, where the accused were involved in preparing and supplying fake milk to various parts of the city.

PFA Director General Muhammad Asim Javaid said that a supplier was caught in Badami Bagh while delivering a white chemical solution prepared on a rickshaw under the guise of pure milk. He said that the recovery of 500 litres of premixed solution foiled the suspects’ plan to manufacture nearly 4,000 litres of fake milk. In another operation at Kareem Park, the accused were caught red-handed while preparing fake milk by mixing powdered ghee, salt and other prohibited substances.

DG Muhammad Asim Javaid said that the adulterated milk was intended for sale in different localities of Lahore, posing serious health hazards. He added that the operations were conducted after prolonged surveillance by vigilance and dairy safety teams.

The DG PFA said that strict action against food adulteration was continuing across Punjab, adding that major fake milk networks had been dismantled and around 80 percent of milk in the province had been made traceable. He said that on the directions of the Chief Minister Punjab, no leniency would be shown to those involved in food fraud.