Rs6.45 million fines imposed on owners of food outlets last year

Islamabad

The National Assembly was informed on Friday that 105 premises were sealed and a total of Rs6.45 million fines were imposed on food outlets for violation of food safety laws in the federal capital last year.

Replying to a question in the National Assembly, Parliamentary Secretary for Interior and Narcotics Control Maryam Aurangzeb said that the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Administration was carrying effective campaigns for last five months to check hygiene standards and adulteration in food items in Islamabad.

The house was informed that the district health officer, ICT, has been notified as ex-officio food inspector under the West Pakistan Pure Food Ordinance 1960 to check quality of food items at food outlets in Islamabad.

A total of 5,779 restaurants and bakeries and food outlets were inspected during the year 2015 while 48 restaurants and bakeries were challaned under the Pure Food Ordinance 1960. In all, 712 challans submitted in the courts under Sanitation Rules and 105 premises were sealed, 4,325-kilogram meat was confiscated and destroyed.

During last five years (up to December 31, 2015), a total 1,711 cases of robbery and 2,864 cases of theft were registered in different police stations of the ICT.

A total of 463 and 406 incidents of robberies in 2013 and 2014 were reported at ICT police stations as compared to 226 and 299 robberies during years 2011 and 2012 respectively. The police stations in Islamabad registered 317 cases of robbery and 430 cases of theft during the year ended on December 31, 2015.

However, the occurrence of street crimes in Islamabad declined to 89 in 2015 from 136 during the year 2014.