Playing with the lives of the public
Food is essential for life and good hygienic food is a must for a healthy living. In a country where more than a quarter of population is forced to live below the poverty line, enforcing food standards sometimes becomes impossible. That is understandable and maybe it can be forgiven too. However, playing with the lives of the people for some quick bucks can neither be ignored nor forgiven. What the Punjab Food Authority has been doing in the past few weeks, therefore, is not only justified and legal but also appreciable.
Some of the most glaring examples of what has been going on in the food and hospitality services include unhygienic conditions where food is prepared, either no or poor sanitation, lack of clean water, no medical tests of those who prepare or handle food, rotten meat, dead or sick animals’ meat, haram meat, no safety measures to avoid food cross contamination, unhygienic premises, expired food and food items without labels etc. What has been going on in the food and hospitality industry, one of the biggest in the province, reeks of government apathy, corporate greed and public indifference on what they eat, how they eat, where they eat and what can actually happen to their health if they eat unhealthy food. Punjab government’s action in this regard is appreciated but one cannot help but wonder what they have been doing in the past. In other words, if there was no Ayesha Mumtaz, there would have been no action taken against those who are playing with the lives of the public. Nonetheless, it would be great if the Punjab government makes sure that this type of pro-activeness on the part of the Food Authority will continue and that there will be no bureaucratic or political interference in its functioning.
For those who are involved in selling dead or haram meat, the Punjab government has just announced another deterrent – a good one on that — in the form of increased punishment. However, the government should also make sure that it does not abuse its powers and also creates a mechanism in which these raids and inspections are continued even if there is some change in the Food Authority’s personnel.
