Punjab Home Secretary calls for tough laws against food adulteration mafia

LAHORE: A special ceremony was held at the Punjab Agriculture, Food and Drug Authority (PAFDA) to mark World Food Day. Punjab Home Secretary Dr Ahmad Javed Qazi attended as chief guest and inaugurated the PAFDA ONE Initiative.

PAFDA Board Vice Chairperson Dr Kausar Abdullah Malik, Special Secretary Home Faisal Farid, Additional Secretary Home Asma Ejaz Cheema, PAFDA Director General Dr Talat Naseer Pasha, senior management and scientists attended the ceremony. Awareness of healthy and balanced food and the importance of better dietary choices was highlighted on the occasion.

The Punjab Home Secretary cut the World Food Day cake with the participants. He also planted a sapling as part of the tree plantation drive.

Steps against adulteration

Dr Ahmad Javed Qazi said international food safety laws had been enforced in Punjab to prevent food adulteration. According to him, strict legislation and effective disciplinary action against the adulteration mafia are essential.

He said PAFDA was a flagship project of the Punjab government, where tests were being carried out with modern equipment of international standard. The Punjab government has made PAFDA laboratories of international standard functional at a cost of Rs16 billion.

The Home Secretary said PAFDA would be given the status of a standard reference laboratory of South Asia. He said people across Pakistan, not only Punjab, would benefit from its laboratories.

He said ensuring the quality of food, medicines and fertiliser across the province and ending adulteration was his mission. An integrated system of quality assurance is being set up, from farm to table and from medicine to the public.

He asked young scientists to perform their duties with full effort, dedication and spirit. He said the protection of human lives, medicines, crops and livestock was among the government’s top priorities.

PAFDA Director General Dr Talat Naseer Pasha spoke about the authority’s measures on food safety. He said World Food Day was observed on 16 October every year. Its aim is to raise awareness against poor diet, hunger and poverty, and about the importance of food and the provision of a balanced diet.

On the occasion, the PAFDA Food Science Laboratory also set up a health and nutrition awareness camp.