LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif has stated that the provision of hygienically made food items to all the people is the mission of the provincial l government, adding that Punjab Food Authority (PFA) is playing an important role in this regard.
The CM stated that the elements involved in the preparation of unhygienic food items deserve no leniency and they deserve to be put behind bars. He further stated that adulteration in food items is a heinous crime and provision of edible items according to health standards will be ensured at every cost.
He stated that if the responsibility is fulfilled with hard work and commitment it is only then that the success can be achieved. He said that the people cannot be left to the mercy of adulteration mafia and they will not be allowed to play with the public’s health.
The chief minister expressed these views while addressing a video conference at Civil Secretariat on Monday.
The video conference, which lasted for two hours, held a detailed review of the performance of PFA and its future line of action. The chief minister directed that indiscriminate action should be continued against the elements doing adulteration in eatables under the law and added that he will go to every extent to provide the right of quality eatable items to the people.
He said that action should be initiated after registration of cases against the owners involved in preparation and sale of adulterated and unhygienic food items. He said that cultivation of vegetables in contaminated water is equal to playing with the human lives and directed the PFA to continue its action against the people found involved in growing vegetables in contaminated water.
He added that the elements selling unhygienic items like ghee, cooking oil, milk, tea, spices and other things are a social menace as well as open enemies of the humanity and that people preparing and selling unhygienic food items will not be allowed to play with the lives of the children for the sake of few coins.
Shehbaz Sharif stated that the food courts should be constituted for Punjab Food Authority and added that immediate steps should be taken to include awareness relating to the food safety in the syllabus of schools. He directed that the scope of Punjab Food Authority should be extended to schools in 36 districts by December.
He further directed that arrangements should be made for the foreign training of PFA staff and made it clear that training arranged through the sponsorships of food companies will be unacceptable in any way. Punjab government shall provide training to the staff with its own resources.
The chief minister demanded an improvement in the core capacity of PFA and added that immediate steps should be taken in this regard, with a human resource department overlooking the due process.
He further said that mechanism of a third-party audit should be designed and short, medium and long-term plans, along with a timeline, should be devised to curb the menace of preparation and sale of unhygienic food items.
Shehbaz Sharif appreciated the performance of Director General (DG) PFA Noor-ul-Amin Mengal and his team in the establishment of a healthy Punjab and added that the initiatives of the authority are wonderful.
He expressed satisfaction over the legislative and administrative performance of PFA and said that the people showing good performance will be encouraged.
During the video conference, DG PFA gave a briefing about the working of the authority.
Provincial Minister Mukhtar Barth, Chief Secretary and secretaries of the concerned departments and experts attended the meeting from civil secretariat through the video link.