QUETTA, Oct 14 (APP): Balochistan Food Authority (BFA) has intensified its province-wide crackdown against substandard and unsafe food products, resulting in fines on 18 food business units, issuance of 42 improvement notices and the sealing of three units, including a nimco manufacturing facility and edible oil production units.
According to a BFA spokesperson, inspection teams conducted raids and inspections in Quetta, Khuzdar, Zhob, Pishin and Dera Allah Yar, covering hotels, restaurants, bakeries, flour mills, water plants, catering houses, general stores, juice corners and other food businesses.
The inspections revealed multiple violations, including poor sanitation, inadequate personal hygiene of workers, sale and storage of expired products, improper food storage practices, pest infestations and the use of prohibited Chinese salt.
Legal action was taken against several businesses found violating food safety regulations.
In Quetta, joint operations by the Balochistan Food Authority and the district administration were carried out at Eastern Bypass, Sariab Road and the city’s industrial area. A restaurant was fined over unhygienic kitchen conditions, expired shawarma products and poor cleanliness, while a bakery was penalized for failing to display manufacturing and expiry dates on its products.
During inspections in the industrial area, the district administration sealed two units involved in producing oil from animal fat. A nimco manufacturing unit was also sealed for violations of food safety laws.
Further inspections on Alamdar Road, Mariabad and Nachari Road led to penalties against a milkshake and juice shop for using dirty blenders, providing substandard water and maintaining poor hygiene standards. A general store was fined for selling expired beverages and erasing expiry dates from products, while a catering outlet faced penalties for maintaining fungus-infested refrigerators, open drainage systems and improper food storage practices.
Authorities also issued improvement notices to six food outlets for minor shortcomings and directed them to renew their operating licences.
In Pishin’s Karbala area, the food safety team inspected 23 food business units. Three establishments were fined for poor sanitation arrangements and the sale of substandard food items, while five others received improvement notices.
Meanwhile, inspections along Airport Road and adjoining areas in Quetta resulted in penalties against a hotel and a flour mill over poor cleanliness, lack of personal hygiene among workers, uncovered waste bins, poorly maintained refrigerators, improper food storage, pest infestations and use of prohibited Chinese salt.
In Dera Allah Yar, the BFA zonal inspection team inspected bakeries, a baking unit, restaurants and a water filtration plant. Fines were imposed on businesses for poor sanitation, failure to display manufacturing and expiry dates, storing raw and cooked food together, using prohibited Chinese salt, presence of insects and non-compliance with standard operating procedures. Improvement notices were also issued for minor violations.
Director General Balochistan Food Authority Habibullah Khan reiterated that ensuring the provision of safe and quality food to the public remains the authority’s top priority. He said indiscriminate action would continue against all those violating food safety laws.
He directed restaurant owners, bakers and operators of other food businesses to strictly comply with prescribed hygiene, sanitation and food quality standards.
The DG BFA warned that individuals and businesses endangering public health would be held accountable under the law,
adding that no compromise would be made on food safety standards.
Source: APP (Associated Press of Pakistan)
