Sindh Food Authority promises reform, cooperation with industry

KARACHI: Director-General of the Sindh Food Authority (SFA) Asif Jan Siddiqui announced on Thursday that SFA teams will now issue prior notices before visiting any industrial units. The move aims to end the practice of surprise inspections and foster a more cooperative regulatory environment.

Speaking at a meeting with members of the Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (KATI), Siddiqui stressed that no inspection teams will be allowed to visit any industrial site without prior notice. He further revealed that, under the Sindh government’s Ease of Doing Business initiative, the licensing process will soon be made fully online to streamline operations and reduce bureaucratic delays.

To facilitate the Korangi industrial area, Siddiqui announced that a dedicated focal person from the SFA will be stationed at KATI to assist industries with registration and compliance matters. He also highlighted the authority’s plans to hold regular training sessions for industrial personnel to address regulatory challenges and promote food safety standards.

In a new initiative, industries that voluntarily test their products and meet quality benchmarks will be awarded a ‘Green Thumbs-Up’ certification. This recognition will be publicly promoted to raise consumer awareness about high-quality local products. “Our goal is not to penalise, but to raise industry standards,” Siddiqui said. “If quality can be improved through dialogue and cooperation, there is no need for heavy fines.”

He added that efforts are underway to establish state-of-the-art laboratories equipped for international-standard testing, and that penalty structures will be revised in consultation with industry stakeholders.

Earlier, KATI President Junaid Naqi expressed concern over the frequent and abrupt transfers of SFA leadership, which he said disrupt policy continuity. He urged the provincial government to ensure longer tenures for directors-general to maintain consistent progress and regulatory clarity.

Naqi also raised concerns over the licensing process, unannounced inspections and excessive fines, calling for a joint action plan to resolve these issues. He criticised SFA officers for conducting visits during non-business hours and public holidays, causing disruptions to industrial operations.

He further called for improvements in government laboratory standards and alleged that some SFA teams issue unjustified fines during their monthly visits. “This has increased operational difficulties for industries,” Naqi said, urging that the frequency of inspections be regulated.

Zubair Chhaya, deputy patron-in-chief of KATI, remarked that regulatory bodies should also act as educators. “Awareness should precede enforcement. Heavy fines harm industries that are already maintaining export-quality standards,” he said.

Chhaya expressed concern over the conduct of certain SFA officials during inspections, citing complaints of unprofessional behaviour and undue pressure on factory owners. He emphasised that the production of counterfeit goods remains a far more serious issue and urged the authority to prioritise efforts to curb such practices.