Chief Minister Punjab applauds the work of Ayesha Mumtaz

Lahore: Chief Minister Punjab Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has applauded the work of Ayesha Mumtaz at the Punjab Food Authority and assured unstinted full support for enforcement on food quality.

Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif appreciated Punjab Food Authority particularly performance of Ayesha Mumtaz Director Operations on taking vigorous action against the elements involved in the business of substandard, unhygienic and adulterated items and gave a shield and souvenir of Punjab government to her.

The Chief Minister said that people of the province are proud of action taken by Ayesha Mumtaz against mafia involved in adulteration. He said that the business of preparing and selling adulterated, substandard and unhygienic items is not only the tragedy of Punjab but entire country. He said that Punjab has to take lead with regard to eliminating this heinous business.

He said that if we will show best performance in this regard, the entire Pakistan will follow us.

Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that those providing poison to the people in the name of food are enemy of humanity. He said that the elements manufacturing and selling unhygienic, substandard and adulterated items should be in jail.

He said that the mafia making adulteration has to be dealt with an iron hand through collective and coordinated efforts. He said that the unholy collusion of mafia involved in producing and selling of unhygienic and substandard food items will be eliminated. He directed that Punjab Food Authority should continue indiscriminate crackdown against those preparing and selling unhygienic and substandard food items and should not care for any pressure or safarish. He said that the manufacturing and sale of substandard and adulterated items will be declared non-bailable crime and punishments against such elements will be made more deterrent.

He expressed these views while addressing a meeting of Punjab Food Authority in which approval was given to the proposed amendments in Punjab Food Authority Act 2011. It was decided to expand the scope of Punjab Food Authority to Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Sargodha, Multan, Bahawalpur, Sialkot and Murree.

Shehbaz Sharif said that the scope of Punjab Food Authority will be expanded throughout the province under a phased programme. He said that in the first phase, the scope of Punjab Food Authority is being expanded to eight cities.

The Chief Minister directed to take immediate steps for expanding the scope of Punjab Food Authority to eight cities in the first phase. He said that the role of food testing labs is very important for eradicating business of adulterated and substandard items. He said that besides expanding the scope of Punjab Food Authority, food testing labs will also be set up. He said that no one will be allowed to exploit the people. He said that Punjab Food Authority should continue indiscriminate action against those playing with the human lives.

Shahbaz Sharif said that providing poison in the name of food is a crime against humanity. He said that those involved in preparing and selling substandard, unhygienic and adulterated items deserve deterrent punishment. He said that Punjab Food Authority should acquire services of best lawyers for awarding punishment to those providing poison to the people in the name of food. He said that Prosecution Department has also to play its effective role in this regard. He said that four task forces have been set up in Punjab for taking action against those involved in preparing and selling substandard, unhygienic and adulterated items in a coordinated manner. He said that task forces should take vigorous action against the elements involved in preparing and selling substandard, unhygienic and adulterated items in their respective region.

The Chief Minister said that task forces have to work by making hard work, honesty and trust as their motto and give results. He directed that transparency, merit and technology based system should be evolved with regard to categorization of restaurants and hotels. He said that the performance of Punjab Food Authority is commendable, however, it will have to pay attention to the training and capacity-building of its staff. He directed that a comprehensive plan should be evolved with regard to service rules, training, career and capacity-building of staff of Punjab Food Authority.

Shahbaz Sharif appreciated Director Operation Punjab Food Authority Ayesha Mumtaz on her excellent performance and gave her a shield and souvenir of Punjab government. Provincial Ministers Rana Sanaullah, Bilal Yasin, Advisor on Health Kh. Salman Rafique, MPAs Majid Zahoor, Abdul Razzaq Dhilon, Muhammad Ali Khokhar, Chief Secretary, Inspector General Police, concerned secretaries and senior officials attended the meeting whereas Advisor on Livestock Ch. Arshad Jatt attended the meeting through video link.