Ayesha Mumtaz sent on forced leave

New DG PFA says she’s on leave for personal reasons

LAHORE: Punjab Food Authority (PFA) Director Operations Ayesha Mumtaz has been removed from his post for taking action against the mafia producing milk injurious to human health. She has been sent on forced leave for 104 days, sources said.

According to sources in the PFA, Ayesha Mumtaz had sealed two milk units under the Punjab Food Pure Food Rules for violating the law and manufacturing substandard milk. The Supreme Court had also taken suo motu notice of production of substandard milk. One of the milk units did not have even the Food Safety Licence.

According to sources, after the appointment of new director general of the Punjab Food Authority, the PFA officials having links with the milk mafia had asked Ayesha Mumtaz to quit the Authority or go on leave. She applied for leave, which was granted.

Ayesha told the reporter that she needed leave for treatment of her parents, and she did not have any differences with the new PFA director general.

When asked about the leave issue of Ayesha Mumtaz, new DG PFA Noorul Amin Mengal said that one milk unit, which had already been de-sealed, was fined, while the second was de-sealed by the PFA according to the law. He said Ayesha Mumtaz was a good officer and she was on leave currently for personal reasons. He said as the post of PFA director operations could not be left vacant for four months, therefore a new officer had been appointed.