He said the objective to regulate the food industry is to bring it into the radar to get rid of the menace of adulteration that is not only causing number of diseases among the masses but also huge loss to the businessmen. The Food Authority Act empowers the food authority to check food and related items. An action plan is being evolved in collaboration with the stakeholders, he added.
Mengal said the Punjab Food Authority has full support of the Chief Minister Punjab. At present it is working in five districts while it would be activated throughout Punjab by the end of this year. He said mobile teams would work in every nook and corner. For this purpose, 700 food technologists are being hired. He said mobile teams would also provide testing facilities to the industrial workers at their working places. He said slaughtering houses are the places of food processing therefore their regulation falls in the jurisdiction of food authority. He said the use of discretionary powers by the authority staff is strictly discouraged.
LCCI President Abdul Basit said that volume of global food trade is around $300 billion out of which only 10 percent share can boost Pakistan's exports by $30 billion but raids at food related industrial units, hotels and restaurants are sending bad message to the outer world.
He said the Punjab Food Department should evolve a code of conduct for the workers of industry and food businesses and impart proper training before conducting undue challans or sealing the business premises. He said the concerned authorities must evaluate the impacts of raids on food sector as it takes years to win reputation that goes into the drain in a matter of minutes. He also urged the food authority to take business community on board while formulating policies. He also asked for giving representation to the Lahore Chamber in the Board of Directors of the Authority.