Members of the Sindh Assembly will table a bill to establish the Sindh Food Authority in the next session in order to set up standards and ensure food quality throughout Sindh.
This was stated by Senior Minister for Food Nisar Ahmed Khuhro while speaking to 9th Consumer Food Safety and Quality Conference 2016 organized by the Consumer Association of Pakistan (CAP).
The minister said that the provincial cabinet has been given a green signal to set up Sindh Food Authority in the province but the passage of the bill has yet to be tabled in the provincial assembly which will likely to be approved by the members.
He added that the law to standardise food quality should be made immediately to provide certifications for various edible products as it is the responsibility of the provincial government to monitor their quality.
He added that selling substandard and unhygienic food to the masses is a major crime but it has been neglected as relevant laws have not yet been passed.
Distinguished guests were also present on the occasion, including Advisor to CM on religion issues Abdul Qayyum Somoro, Chairman CAP Kokab Iqbal, Malaysian Consul General Ismail Bin Bikri Muhammad, and CEO Trade Development Authority Pakistan (TDAP) S M Munir.
The minister said that the local markets have been full of unhygienic and sub-standard food since 1947, and that their sale is equal to being an enemy of the country. Consumers should be informed of the ingredients of the food items, which must be compliant to Sharia standards, Khuhro said. He added that imported eatable goods should be tagged as halal after certification.
CEO TDAP S M Munir said that the delayed setup of such an authority is a cause of concern as it should have been done much earlier. He pointed out that sale of sub-standard meat continues because of criminally negligent food quality inspectors.
He also added that the government should investigate producers of substandard food based on information from the press and media in order to maintain required standards.
Chairman CAP Kokab Iqbal said that an authority similar to the Punjab Food Authority should be established in the province along with tribunals and courts related to food quality. He added that the CAP organises events on food safety and quality control to educate people about their right to know about the ingredients of the food that they eat.
Iqbal added that the market for halal products has been expanding all across the world and that Pakistan should take advantage of this through the production and export of halal certified food products.
