PFA launches open market sampling test drive

LAHORE :Punjab Food Authority (PFA) on Tuesday launched its open market sampling test campaign by collecting butter, desi ghee and cheese samples from open market for examining products quality and fortification.
Punjab Food Authority Director General Noor-ul-Amin Mengal has supervised the operational activities of food safety teams and passed directions to food safety officers for taking strict action against those involved in adulteration.
He said the samples will be sent to ISOs and Pakistan Certified Councils certified laboratories for test. He said that Punjab Food Authority will not only remove the products from market but also seal the production units/companies in case of failure in meeting the food standards and proved adulteration in laboratory test report. Mengal told that PFA had sealed seven production units of desi ghee in the province last week, including two in Lahore and one each in five other districts after receiving complaints from consumers about the sale of fake and substandard products.
As per complaints, artificial flavours and Banaspati ghee were being used in the preparation of desi ghee and being sold in market, he added. He said this initiative is part of Punjab Food Authority mission in order to make healthy Punjab.
The Punjab Food Authority slogan of providing healthy food “From Farm to Fork” is not merely a saying but is our practical priority. The Punjab Food Authority decided to take strict action against adulteration to curb the sale of substandard and unhygienic food articles like desi ghee, butter and cheese.
He said our objective of sampling campaign is to identify the elements behind adulteration and industrial reform. demolished: Lahore Development Authority Town Planning Wing on Tuesday in a drive against illegal constructions in the city, demolished and sealed illegal buildings.
The LDA Town Planning Wing officials demolished two marquees in Gul Daman Housing Scheme, a commercial building in PIA Housing Society and five shops in Johar Town. The officials also sealed several marriage halls, including Al-Jannat Fort, Celebration Lounge, Fortune Star, Qasar-e-Jamal and Royal Castle for illegal construction.
Following the complaints of the ongoing illegal constructions across the city especially in private housing societies, Lahore Development Authority (LDA) Director General has issued serious warning to the Town Planning Wing of the authority.
Sources in Lahore Development Authority revealed that Lahore Development Authority DG Zahid Zaman called a surprise meeting on Tuesday in which Chief Town Planner and all his directors, deputy directors and assistant directors were present.
The Lahore Development Authority DG questioned the head, directors and deputy directors that how can an illegal building be constructed in the city without being checked. He said Town Planning Wing has to be vigilant and work in a proactive manner against this mess.
Sources revealed that the Lahore Development Authority DG showed pictures of some under-construction buildings to the officers of Town Planning Wing from his cell phone and said that despite a huge paraphernalia of Town Planning Wing how can such illegal buildings be constructed.