Daily Times

The Punjab Food Authority (PFA) has given two months’ deadline to all food business operators for taking rectification measures as per the authority’s instructions.

The improvements are in regard to selling and purchasing smuggled food products.

The purpose of the decision was to overcome the sale of smuggled and unverified goods which are increasing day by day in our country, PFA Director General Noorul Amin Mengal said.

He said that our economy and treasury bearing a loss of billions of rupees annually due to not have proper check and balance on them. He said that it is compulsory for all food business operators to keep and maintain the record of their stock like receipt vouchers of imported goods, documents and other things which are necessary to run a food business by remaining in the circle of law. He said that strict action would be taken against those violating the rule and not following the instructions. The PFA will not only confiscate the smuggled products but also register a case against violators as per law.

DG further said that most of the traders are selling smuggled products without meeting the parametres of the PFA which is set for the food industry. He said that it is obligatory for FBOs to get a halal certificate and laboratory report of their products, adding that PFA is very conscious about the health of citizens and in this connection, PFA examines the quality of food products multiple times in a year. He further said that a number of smuggled products are being sold in the market in the name of imported products which is a wrong practice. A mafia is also involved in forgery and adulteration under the cover of smuggled products which is not acceptable by PFA at any cost, he added.

Published in Daily Times, June 20^th 2018.