PFA to check quality of free food

LAHORE: To ensure quality of food, Punjab Food Authority (PFA) has decided to start monthly inspections of providers of free food to the poor in the provincial metropolis.

A good number of philanthropists and charity institutions are providing free food to the poor in different city localities. A number of free dastarkhwans have also been established in the city, which are providing free food to the citizens especially the poor.

Besides establishment of free dastarkhwans in various city areas, philanthropists and charity institutions are also providing free food to patients and their attendants in several city hospitals while similar kind of facilities are also available in industrial estates of the city for poor labourers.

One can witness a free dastarkhwan of a renowned real estate developer at Abbot Road, a small free dastarkhwan was established by a local resident near Darbar Hazrat Shah Jamal while a subsidised food spot was established by a local resident in Sector A-1, Township from where a poor can get a plate of Chicken Biryani, Chicken Broast, Mutton Qorma in Rs20 only each.

A book store is providing free food to all manual labourers of Urdu Bazaar twice a day, while a hotel in Shahalam Market near D Plaza is also providing free food to poor labourers. Similarly, free food dastarkhwans are also established in Quaid-e-Azam industrial estate for poor labourers by a renowned bakery chain.

Faisal Khan, a manual labourer said that when he didn’t find work he went to any of the free food providers especially at the dastarkhwan established at Abbot Road. He said the PFA should not discourage these free food providers because thousands of poor people get free food from these spots.

Munir Ahmed, a salesman said he used to get subsidised food from Township in Rs20 for him and his family. He said his salary is Rs10,000 per month and can’t afford to cook mutton or chicken roast at his home even once a month. He said though the government has fixed minimum salary at Rs14,000 but no government department enforced this decision because its benefit goes to poor citizens only.

Providing free food to the poor is a very good job and we appreciate those who are offering this, said Noorul Amin Mengal, Director General PFA while talking with The News. He said the motive behind this move was to ensure quality of food being provided to poor free-of-cost.

“We are constantly checking the catering services supplying rice and other food at city shrines but this aspect was ignored in past,” he said, adding that he had directed the Director Operation PFA to start checking these free food providers at least once a month.

He said this inspection will improve the quality of food so that the poor can get more high nutrient value and good hygienic food.