Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has ordered to launch indiscriminate crackdown against those involved in preparing and selling adulterated items throughout the province.
Presiding over a meeting here on Saturday, he said that scope of taskforces would be expanded to nine divisional headquarters for making the campaign against adulteration effective.
Chief Minister gave approval in principle to expand the scope of Punjab Food Authority to seven districts and Murree.
The meeting decided to make punishments more deterrent against those preparing and selling substandard, unhygienic and adulterated items whereas approval was also given to the decisions for enhancing fine against mafia involved in adulteration and necessary amendments will be made in the existing laws in this regard. Special courts will also be set up for hearing of cases against adulteration.
Shahbaz Sharif said that the heinous business of preparing and selling poison in the name of food would be stopped as provision of poisonous food items cannot be permitted at any cost.
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The CM directed that the role of Punjab Food Authority should be made more effective in Lahore and it should be made an institution fully equipped with information technology.
He said that Punjab Information Technology Board should evolve a system jointly with Punjab Food Authority in this regard and the matters of Punjab Food Authority should be outsourced.
He said that the scope of Punjab Food Authority would be expanded throughout Punjab under a phased programme.
He said that the taskforces constituted in nine divisions would be fully empowered and authorized to take action against those involved in preparing and selling adulterated items in their respective districts.
The Chief Minister directed that the training should be arranged for the heads and other staff of taskforces, adding that the training for concerned staff of Punjab Food Authority should also be arranged abroad.
He said that there would be a third-party audit of the steps to be taken under the campaign against adulteration.
Shahbaz Sharif said that those making adulteration in vegetable oil and ghee, spices, milk and water should be in jail and such elements as play with human lives were a stigma for the society.
He directed that Cabinet Committee should minutely consider the future requirements and steps to be taken for expanding scope of Punjab Food Authority to seven districts and Murree and submit a final report.
He said that an effective awareness campaign should be launched for categorization of restaurants and food chains. He said that a vigorous crackdown should also be launched against the owners of units manufacturing substandard and harmful items.
The CM also gave approval to start a pilot project for introducing modern model carts prepared for cart pushers in Lahore, Multan and Rawalpindi. He directed that business model regarding model carts should be prepared and presented.
He said that Punjab government would provide model carts to cart pushers for specific places where they will start their business.
He said that Punjab government would also provide subsidy on model carts and not only food items will be available to the people according to hygienic standard through model carts at specific places but flow of traffic will also improve.
He said that the design of model carts should be further improved. (APP)
