LAHORE – Despite the fact that health certificates have been made compulsory for food handlers by the City District Government Lahore (CDGL), the law is being violated by influential hotel owners, Pakistan Today has learnt.
After the issuance of computerised food licenses to various food outlets and factories by the CDGL, health certificates had also been made compulsory for all types of food handlers throughout Lahore. But as time passed by, the CDGL has lost interest in this regard and many food handlers continue to operate without a health certificate. Unhygienic food continues to be served to citizens from uncertified food handlers.
According to CDGL sources, the food administration gives a tough time to small hotels but often overlooks bigger hotels. “Health certificate for bigger hotels are often looked over by the administration but small hotel owners are made to suffer on even minute details,” sources said. Lahore Food District Officer (DO) Dr Masood said that the health certificate law is intact and applied on all hotels equally.
He said that a delay in health certificates have also caused a delay in issuance of food licenses. A cafe owner at the MM Alam Road, seeking anonymity said, “It’s not a big deal for anyone”. He said that the easiest way was to bribe the lower staff of the food department. “Nothing is impossible here, you just need the right man”, he added. Health certificate for food handlers was made compulsory in connection with the computerised food licence crusade initiated by the CDGL Food Department.
The formalities include submitting fees for registration, acquiring health certificate of food handlers and a detailed visit of the premises and its vicinity by a team of experts of the CDGL Food Department. These formalities were supposed to ensure proper hygiene conditions at shops and factories around the provincial capital.
Hotels and restaurants are divided into three major categories, A, B and C. Along with the fees, medical certificate of food handlers attained from public-sector hospitals was made a mandatory part of the procedure.
