CM approves Agriculture Food, Drug Authority

Says authority will ensure provision of quality food, medicines to people

LAHORE

Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has approved the setting up of a completely autonomous Punjab Agriculture Food and Drug Authority.

He gave this approval while addressing a meeting through a video link at Civil Secretariat, here Tuesday. The chief minister said that establishing of the authority was of vital importance in the provision of quality drugs to the people, supply of best agriculture medicines and fertilisers besides adulteration-free food to the masses.

Punjab Agriculture Food and Drug Authority will be fully autonomous and after the establishment of the first modern drug testing laboratory in Lahore, drug testing labs in Multan, Faisalabad, Bahawalpur and Rawalpindi will also be upgraded. These drug testing labs will be state-of-the-art on the pattern of drug testing lab set up in Lahore.

The chief minister directed that work should be carried out expeditiously for modernising drug testing labs in the four big cities of Punjab and all matters in this regard should be dealt with in a professional manner. He said that setting up of the authority would help in curbing substandard and adulterated food, drugs, agriculture medicines and sprays. He said that Punjab Agriculture Food and Drug Authority would be free of any interference. 

Shahbaz Sharif directed that new staff should be recruited for the authority and for the purpose of up-gradation of the labs and special attention should be paid to its training. He directed that the steering committee should complete the project of establishing the authority and up-gradation of labs in different cities expeditiously.

He directed that paperless system should be introduced in the authority and the entire system should be digital. He said that all-out resources would be made available for this important project.

Admiral Niazi: Commander Central Punjab and Commandant Pakistan Navy War College Rear Admiral Muhammad Amjad Khan Niazi, called on Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, here Tuesday. Matters of mutual interest and professional affairs of Pakistan Navy were discussed in the meeting.

Speaking on the occasion, the chief minister said that Pakistan Navy was fully capable of safeguarding the maritime boundaries of Pakistan and the Pakistani nation was proud of courage and bravery of the officers and Jawans of its navy.

Pakistan Day: Shahbaz Sharif has directed that special ceremonies should be arranged in education institutions in connection with Pakistan Day in which the struggle during Pakistan Movement since Pakistan Resolution should be highlighted.

He was addressing a meeting through a video link at Civil Secretariat, here Tuesday. The meeting decided to celebrate Pakistan Day throughout the province in an enthusiastic manner. He said that 23rd of March, 1940 is a historic day in national history when Muslims of the subcontinent gathered on one platform under the leadership of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and there is a need to celebrate this day in a befitting manner.