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LAHORE, Jul 14 (APP):The Punjab Food Authority (PFA) has sealed a restaurant and imposed fines amounting to Rs133,000 on six others during a citywide crackdown against unhygienic food outlets, here on Monday.
As part of the operation, food safety teams inspected 29 prominent restaurants and examined approximately 191,000 litres of milk and 31,000 kilograms of chicken. During the inspections, 1,100 kilograms of diseased chicken and 500 litres of adulterated milk were found unfit for human consumption and discarded on the spot.
PFA Director General Muhammad Asim Javaid told media on Monday that early morning checkpoints were established at city entry points where 31 meat-transporting and 183 milk-carrying vehicles were thoroughly checked. The sealed restaurant was found in violation of previously issued warnings, with severe sanitary lapses observed, including the presence of cockroaches, flies, and lizards in the kitchen. Additionally, critical documentation such as traceability records, food handler medical reports, and training certificates were missing. He confirmed that the discarded food items were declared unsafe after on-the-spot laboratory testing. He reiterated that PFA is strictly enforcing food safety regulations in line with the Chief Minister’s vision of “Healthy Punjab, Healthy Pakistan.”
The DG emphasized that no food business will be allowed to operate in violation of the law, and all processes, from food preparation to delivery, must comply with international food safety standards. He urged citizens to play their part in ensuring safe food practices by reporting complaints to the PFA helpline at 1223.