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ISLAMABAD, Jun 10 (APP):The Islamabad Food Authority (IFA) has launched a citywide inspection campaign and its teams remained active during the festive days to check hygiene standards at restaurants, food stalls, and grocery outlets across the city and its outskirts to ensure safe food reaches the public.
In a three-day inspection drive, the food authority teams checked 42 food businesses in different parts of Islamabad. While, nine of these outlets were fined a total of Rs 153,000 for poor hygiene and safety violations.
Talking to APP, Deputy Director of the Islamabad Food Authority (IFA) Dr Tahira Siddique said that 30 outlets were issued improvement notices for not meeting cleanliness and food safety requirements. These notices instructed the owners to address specific issues within a set timeframe or face stricter action.
According to the Deputy Director, inspections revealed multiple violations, including poor kitchen sanitation, open drains, broken floors, and fly infestations. In several cases, food was found stored in foul-smelling freezers covered in fungus. The authority also confiscated and destroyed over 40 kilograms of expired and unsafe food items during the operation.
Dr. Tahira Siddique said the campaign aimed to protect public health by ensuring that food served during Eid meets basic safety standards. She added that food business operators must follow rules and maintain cleanliness to continue operations, especially during high-demand periods like Eid.
She emphasized that strict action would be taken against anyone involved in food-related fraud or mismanagement. “There is no space in Islamabad for those who compromise public health,” Dr. Siddique said.
She further urged all food operators to cooperate with the authority’s teams and follow food safety laws to avoid penalties and protect consumer health.
The Islamabad Food Authority plans to continue unannounced visits to monitor food businesses and take immediate action wherever required. The authority’s officials said that follow-up inspections would also be carried out to check compliance at outlets that received improvement notices.
Dr. Siddique said that the goal of the food authority is not just enforcement, but also to support food operators in improving their standards. She added that providing safe and nutritious food during Eid is a shared responsibility between the government, food businesses, and consumers.
The Islamabad Food Authority will continue working to reduce risks associated with contaminated or expired food and ensure that people can celebrate Eid without worrying about health hazards linked to what they eat.