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ISLAMABAD, Nov 04 (APP):The Islamabad Food Authority (IFA) carried out extensive operations across the federal capital in October, inspecting 1,058 restaurants and food outlets to ensure compliance with hygiene and food safety standards.
Talking to APP, Deputy Director Operations of IFA, Dr Tahira Siddique said that the monthly performance report revealed large-scale actions against unsafe and substandard food, with heavy fines and multiple closures.
According to the report, penalties amounting to over Rs 2.5 million were imposed on 144 restaurants found violating food quality standards. The authority sealed 51 outlets that were producing or selling unsafe food items.
She said the IFA destroyed 25,000 litres of adulterated milk, 178 kilograms of unsafe meat, 191 litres of beverages, and 78 litres of expired food items during inspections. The authority said these products were unfit for human consumption and posed potential health risks.
Dr Tahira stated that the IFA issued 280 new licenses to restaurants and shops during the same month, ensuring that food-related businesses operate under official regulations and maintain hygiene protocols.
Responding to public feedback, the Food Authority addressed 26 citizen complaints related to food safety and hygiene issues. The IFA teams acted immediately on each complaint, conducting inspections and taking necessary enforcement actions where violations were found.
Deputy Director of the IFA said that crackdowns based on secret intelligence reports were being carried out across the city to identify violators and ensure safe food availability. “The authority remains active in every sector of the city to check hygiene conditions and food quality,” he added.
Dr. Tahira Siddique, said the department was committed to ensuring that residents have access to safe and healthy food. “Food safety is a shared responsibility. Citizens should cooperate with the Food Authority by reporting outlets involved in selling or preparing unsafe food,” she urged.
She added that field teams conduct daily inspections in food markets, restaurants, bakeries, milk shops, and other food outlets to maintain strict vigilance over quality standards. The IFA’s operations focus on both preventive and punitive measures — preventive through regular guidance to food handlers, and punitive through fines and sealing where violations occur.
The IFA emphasized that it is working under a zero-tolerance policy towards food adulteration and contamination. The destruction of large quantities of unsafe milk and meat was part of the authority’s broader campaign to curb adulteration and maintain hygiene standards in the federal capital.
Authorities said that awareness drives are also being conducted to educate food handlers about cleanliness, storage practices, and the use of quality raw materials. Inspections are carried out under the Islamabad Pure Food Regulations, which set standards for preparation, storage, and sale of food items.
Officials reiterated that no food outlet, regardless of size or location, is exempt from inspection. Regular surprise visits by inspection teams continue in markets, restaurants, and roadside food stalls to discourage violations and promote compliance.
Dr. Tahira further noted that the authority plans to expand its digital monitoring system, enabling better tracking of inspections and public complaints. “Every citizen deserves access to safe food. The Food Authority will continue its mission without compromise,” she said.
The IFA urged residents to play an active role in identifying unhygienic food points by using its complaint helpline and social media platforms. “Public cooperation is crucial in maintaining food safety standards across Islamabad,” the report concluded.