Still, some disagree
Apparently, not everybody is impressed with the Punjab Food Authority’s rather impressive crusade of cracking down on unhygienic conditions in restaurants, etc. Naturally, it is those who are caught bending and breaking clear rules that are the unhappiest. So much so that a good number of them recently staged a protest in Lahore; implying that somehow they were being unfairly targeted by the department. Now, it might have been possible to attach a degree of legitimacy to their complaints once upon a time, but not so anymore under the constant, and unforgiving, gaze of popular media.
Once this campaign made news value, it was only natural for public interest to snow ball. Most places exposed as selling sub standard food because of unhygienic conditions in their cooking area, etc, are pretty high standard, which means they usually charge an arm and a leg for a square meal. Naturally people are disgusted. And it just makes things worse for those finally exposed for their wrongdoings to cry foul, still expecting people to believe, in the presence of powerful media pictures, that they are being unfairly targeted.
CM Sharif has rightly appreciated the department for its good work. Already there is word of those not yet brought under the axe hurriedly pulling their socks up. Common people, too, will be more careful on their outings. These are not just financial aspects, but also impact the health of thousands of people, if not more. Hopefully the government will expand this methodology to other departments, and make sure it does whatever it can to clamp down on such blatant corruption. At the risk of repetition, it is only when wrongdoers are not apprehended that crime and corruption become so commonplace. The Punjab government has gained the initiative in a small but appreciated way. It must continue the good work.
Punjab Food Authority Campaign on cracking down on unhygienic conditions in restaurants of Lahore need no expatiation. Apart from unhygienic conditions, there are complaints of contamination of drinking / tap water with sewerage lines. The PFA must also take notice, whether workers in restaurants /hotels are paid rightfully including their fringe benefits, in order to enable them to keep themselves clean, healthy and free from diseases /ailments. Normal practice is that they are put on 12 hrs duty instead of eight and are low paid with that they cannot make their both ends meet..There is need of holding sandwich training courses for the workers for imparting knowledge / awareness about cleanliness, hygienic conditions on the work place and the surroundings.
Very well done PFA, please keep it up!
However, in my humble opinion, we shouldn't be taking such harsh actions at first instance in a country like Pakistan (where all is actually not so well all over the country for such a long time…?). So, we need to create some awareness about our laid-down standards (whatever) and then see/inspect see/inspect, if somebody commits violation of those standards, only then PFA should issue "Improvement Notice" according to PFA's Act/Rules 2011. Whereas, if still someone doesn't comply with the rules/instructions of PFA then they must take action, what "Director Operations" is doing these days….???
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