Daily Times

Due to the non-qualified staff, the Rawalpindi Cantonment Board’s (RCB) has been failed to ensure the provision of hygienic and quality food items in its jurisdiction, Daily Times has learnt reliably.

Sources privy to the development said that the RCB food branch has only one qualified food inspector namely Shahid Mahmood; but unfortunately due to the departmental differences he is also assigned the duty of paperwork within the office. Meanwhile, non-qualified staff members conduct raids and search in the markets to check the quality and hygienic condition at the food outlets.

Sources said that two teams comprising total of 11 officials of food branch are posted as food inspectors and assigned the duty to make sure the provision of quality food items at outlets within RCB jurisdiction. Interestingly, none of them has the required qualification for these posts.

Sources maintained that due to lack of qualification and technical expertise, the food branch officials only fine the traders / outlet owners on the bases of the sanitation and the cleanness situation in the shop in order to meet the revenue target.

An official of the RCB wishing anonymity said that food branch is a service provider department and revenue generation is not its job. The food branch’s focus on revenue generation instead of quality control is only to please and satisfy the higher authorities.

When inquired on the matter, the RCB spokesperson Qaiser Mehmood said that food branch is equipped with the latest machines and technical training courses were also provided to improve the skills and qualification of food branch staff.

The Rawalpindi Cantonment Board (RCB) food branch has generated revenue of Rs. 3, 83,700 during the first five months of this year, while 1,494 samples of different food items were sent to the lab for the quality test this year.

Sources said that last year after the hike in the sample-testing fee from Rs 30 to Rs 3,000 by the Punjab Food Authority, the RCB food department decided to send the sample Peshawar for the quality tests. However, due to the heavy workload the sample processing rate is too slow.

The source went on to say that the non-qualified officials are posted in the food branch only because of having good relations with the concern officers. If the violation of merit continues alike, the department will suffer from numerous problems due to the incompetent staff which is appointed on nepotism basis, they added.

Earlier this, the cantonment board authorities were working to avail the expertise of Punjab Food Authority to make sure the quality control. But, with the transfer of a senior official this proposal is also put under the files, sources maintained.